A Very General Question About Breeds and Breeding

[Sonoran Silkies]

A number of the "production" breeds have had broodiness bred right out of them. Most sq birds of those breeds will still broood and hatch babies. Right now I have a SQ barred rock hen raising her first clutch. Get a barred rock from a hatchery and the chances that she will go broody are pretty much nil.

Some breeds are not particularly productive, but to a large extent, that was never their primary function.

Based upon the breeders I have known, they tend to pay far more attention to genetic issues with offspring than do hatcheries.

SQ birds of dual-purpose breeds tend to be much larger than are production strains of those same breeds--meaning more meat and larger eggs.

 

[Oldhound]

Mr Dan Honour is one of the most respected authorities on poultry in the U.S. and I read his posts and Learn. Bill Marcy

 

[punky rooster]

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So do I Bill.

 

[gjensen]

Good question and good answers.

 

[Pony Trotsky]

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This is an interesting point.

Is there any way to tell whether a breeder is producing purebred birds primarily for show, or primarily for longevity and usefulness? Are there different classes or types of birds within given breeds, like the "working dog" vs "show dog" varieties within the GSD breed?

I see that you have Buckeyes, and this is one of the breeds that got me wondering about the Heritage thing in the first place. Both Buckeyes and old-fashioned RIRs of that type strike me as simultaneously beautiful and functional. In both those cases the "show quality" chicken still looks like a chicken - not like some kind of floofy bowling ball.

And what about dressier breeds, like the Wyandotte and the English Orpington? Are there functional and pretty versions of those?

 

[gumbii]

it's all about how much you want to spend... i have some hatchery giant cochins, and i also have show quality OEGB's... although, i like them all the same... if you want to spend the extra scratch on pretty birds, get them... IMO they aren't that expensive, unless you want like chocolate orps or something... LOL... i see pairs and trio go for less than a bill shipped...


i may sound dumb to some, but in all my other hobbies, you get what you pay for... my primary hobby is reef tanks and saltwater fish... you can get a cheap coral or fish for 10 bucks, but it isn't going to be as colorful, friendly and awesome as a 40 dollar one of the same species...

 

[gjensen]

Quote:
This is an interesting point.

Is there any way to tell whether a breeder is producing purebred birds primarily for show, or primarily for longevity and usefulness? Are there different classes or types of birds within given breeds, like the "working dog" vs "show dog" varieties within the GSD breed?

I see that you have Buckeyes, and this is one of the breeds that got me wondering about the Heritage thing in the first place. Both Buckeyes and old-fashioned RIRs of that type strike me as simultaneously beautiful and functional. In both those cases the "show quality" chicken still looks like a chicken - not like some kind of floofy bowling ball.

And what about dressier breeds, like the Wyandotte and the English Orpington? Are there functional and pretty versions of those?

With chickens the proof is in the pudding. Ask the breeder the average epa (eggs per annum). Ask about POL (point of lay). Ask about the cockerel weights at 12, 14, or 16 weeks. Ask about hen weight after lay. Ask abou egg size. If they do not know it is not part of their selection criteria. I am not an experienced, serious breeder per say, but I know these answers for my birds, except for some new birds I have. You would still have to test them yourself.
Wyandottes and Orpingtons like many breeds have went in many directions. Orpingtons and Wyandottes can be good dual purpouse fowl. Some have selected for exhibition with no regard for functional characteristics, some have done well keeping their feet in both camps, and who knows what hatcheries select for.
I personally believe there is a need for poultry keepers to breed to the standard AND the production characteristics of the breed. These questions are better specific and answered by breeders of the specific breed. There is alot of variance between strains.
Punky Rooster would be able to answer Buckeye specific questions. There are some good Rhode breeders on here to. I am playing with New Hampshires.

 

[Pony Trotsky]

^ ^I don't think it sounds dumb at all, Gumbii. Horsemen say, "It costs as much to feed a bad horse as a good one, " and that's a pretty irrefutable maxim in my book.

I'm just a rank beginner with three hatchery pullets, but I think I might have caught the Chicken Bug, big time. If that's so, and I'm still in love with chickens next year, I'm going to plan very carefully, and buy the very best birds I can.

All I need to figure out now is what "best" means!

*

ETA: Oh! I just saw your post, GJenson. This sounds like very good and sensible advice. I thank you!

 

[gumbii]

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it's moar like a chicken epidemic than a bug... i started out wanting just a rooster... LOL... my friend got OEGB's from this one local petshop... poor quality, and then we discovered the online auctions... LOL... then started buying from breeders and getting chickens shipped from out of state... man... now i have like 40+ on my property... and i live in a city in los angeles where i can't have an chickens...

yesterday i went to a hydroponic store, and the owners heard me saying that i wanted to buy lady bugs to feed my chickens... so they asked me about chickens and they want some hens to feed their family... i explained the whole thing to them about hatchery vs breeder stock... they told me a saying that was kind of the same (although they garden organic veggies inside the house), they said, "you can grow some juicy tomatoes or some dandelions but as long as you grow something, that's what the hobby is all about" LOL... i laughed, but understood what he was trying to say...


now... if i can get some chickens that grow tomatoes... that would be worth a lot of moneys...

 

[punky rooster]

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Yeah, if you have any questions about Buckeyes feel free to ask.

Good luck,