Today in Melton Mowbray we had another Poultry sale which are held twice a month along with the weekly sales on a Tuesday, everything there is laid on for the Poultry enthusiast, :)
I wouldn't buy from a public market for the simple reason there is no comeback. You don't know whether the birds have been inoculated against Mareks or Newcastle disease either. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek%27s_disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marek%27s_disease)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_disease (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newcastle_disease)
This has always been a bone of contention for me, as I know for a fact that unscrupulous breeds off load there rubbish at these places.
Best buy from a recognised breeder or ex battery birds is my advice
I bought my very first half dozen hens at Melton Market about 20 years ago. They started to lay within about three weeks and never stopped for a solid 4 years.
They kept my family and half the street supplied with eggs for years. I thought I was bidding on one bird, not a job lot. Cost me about 70p each and they are what got me hooked on chickens, I've had them ever since.
MM is a great place to see and buy hens etc. Some are vacinated some are not but they do write on the cards on the doors of the pens so buyers do know what they are buying with the id number of seller you can go through the market office if you have a problem even with buying hatching eggs.
http://www.meltonmowbraymarket.co.uk/fur-and-feather.html
Twice a year they have the rare and pure breeds sales /show a lot of top breeders come with their poultry.
Its a lovely day out and great for children to see.