quality rare breed did not start with hatchery birds - the original Welsummer stock in the US was imported from Europe. If a judge is following the SOP, a hatchery bird is not likely to win because they aren't bred with the SOP in mind. Hatcheries look for different qualities like egg laying capability, faster maturing and hatchability. Local fairs are different than actual shows because many of the judges aren't familiar with the breed standards of less common breeds, so yes you might win a local fair competition. Whether you win or not, you can still enjoy the breed. I started with hatchery birds, but the more I learned about the breed and breeding, the more I realized it would take decades, an in depth breeding program and 1,000 of birds hatched and culled to get anywhere close to the standard. For what I wanted in my birds, going with higher quality stock from a breeder was a much better starting point. Buying eggs and chicks from a breeder should not be like a box of chocolates though. the breeder should know what their selling - if you get a chick that is not pure, the breeder should refund your money.
