Who knew there was such a thing as a chook auction? Apparently there is, or at least in small town Australia – the couple I’m currently staying with went to one last Saturday morning. After an unfortunate run in between their last brood and their Irish Terrier, the chook pen was pining for some new feathered residents. Apparently the auction was quite the place to be (though that’s not saying much for a town of this size). A hullaballoo of people eagerly (and quite aggressively at times, so I hear) bidding for their new egg-laying-machines. S and B came home with five almost mature Hyline chickens pleased with their purchase, despite having only gone in with the intention of acquiring three. That’s always the case with shopping isn’t it? Each bird was $24 a pop. Was that expensive? I honestly don’t know. How much would one expect to pay for a bog-standard-yet-efficient-egg-laying-chook to cost? What price would you be prepared to pay? Continue reading