advice for buying breeding stock at shows

[()relics]

Quote:
my thoughts exactly...or a surplus cockerel from a SQ breeder is far better than an egg you might buy from a "show quality" breeder...They may not end up in a show cage but they will have the genetic potential thanks to the experienced decisions made by the breeder....not some random roosters running with a few hens that originally came from a reputable breeder.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
And where do you get that idea?

I assume you are talking to me. Which idea? that she is in the egg selling business or that quality breeders rarely sell eggs or chicks?

I guess I should describe what I mean by a "Quality Breeder". Since we are discussing Exhibition Poultry and assuming you are wanting to by birds that will produce winners.

I would describe a Quality Breeder as someone who consistently wins at a good size show, in fast company, and the show is sanctioned by the ABA and APA. Someone who has been breeding for a number of years and that is always in contention for Champion. Someone who has paid their dues and learned from the old masters. More often than not this person is a Master Breeder of the APA or ABA, but I do know some Master Breeders who are just great conditioners and exhibitors and not that great of breeders.

If it makes someone feel better about themselves to call me "Rude and Ignorant" so be it. But I have been neither.

Bob

This is absolutely true in my experience. I can't think of anyone who meets this definition that sell eggs or chicks.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Whatever, I believe what I believe. I know I am a quality breeder. My def. is probably different then yours. I don't believe you have to show to be a quality breeder, but instead the quality has to reflect on your birds, how well they conform to the standard etc. And on you, that your an honest, ethical breeder. There are lots of quality breeders out there who do not show their birds but do have amazing stock, so what about them, apparently there the cruddy breeders. Whatever

Im done with this conversation now, since you people obviously don't get my point.

To the OP Good Luck finding some birds at the show. Hope you find exactly what you want.

 

[call ducks]

Some of the best advice i can give you, from my 5+ years in poultry/Waterfowl. IS look around, call people , if you can find any local poultry club meetings, meet breeders, if they will let you go see there set up. Don't say you will buy something untill you see, and are able to hold it in your hands. You may have one of the best silver laced wyandotte shape wise, but it needs to be the right wight. Travel that long distance to go to shows. Last year i taveled (mom was driving) 3+ hours one way to go to a show & to pick up some ducks. Often the best breeders i have found were the least known.


there is one thing that i have found out , That the Breeder may not have any birds for "sale" but i have found if you email/call the breeder , knowing what you want and politly asking if he/she will have any for sale, he/she may not but would be willing to point you to some one that does.


Also,

I am farly young (14 almost 15) but like i said i have been rasing poultry for 5+ years. And every year more and more contact with breeders, has tought me much more then the year before. Most people when they first meet me are surpised how much i know. I do not know half as much as say city chicks ( i think thats her username) butam all ways willing to learn. I am setting up a big program of blue/Black/Splash Australorps, i have my breeders growing out right now. I must have close to 30 breeders of B/B/S Australorps from 3 differnet lines, and would like to get a forth line of blacks. Now out of those 30 i think i will keep 2 roosters, and between 5-13 hens for breeding. The rest of the roos will get to got to the freezer, and hens will go to laying. I hope to be able to provide some of the chicken that our famly eats over the next few years. i rember some one saying "in order to presevre it we have to eat it" or something along those lines. I turly belive this.

Also, if you have extra roos that you can't sell, you can all ways put it in the freezer

 

[cracked_egg]

Thanks guys!

So honestly I can expect to pay 25 to 75. For a quality juvenile bird??? That seems cheap? There was a black astralorps at the local fair that they said the guy paid 500 for! (Which if I paid 500 for a chicken it wouldn't be at the fair! I'd. Protect that investment....). Anyway... I know in horses you can expect to pay a pretty penny for a mare... But right now with the economy being so bad. Few people want to breed which opens things up for those that do have some funds and can wait this out.... There are also ways to get deals on quality mares... Is the same true with chickens? (obviously this is a totally different deal, chickens and horses... Chickens can produces 100+ chicks each per year where mares can only produce 1 foal, and they cost a lot more to feed,) lol...

 

[()relics]

Quote:
$500 ???? at a local fair??? I hope it won hands down, or that may be a good example a bad investment.

 

[SQbrahmas]

Top of the line birds with legendary lines are at least 50 and up. 25$ is pretty low.

 

[Tim63]

Something that I don't think has been mentioned-Along with quality birds from a quality breeder comes a wealth of knowledge and experience. The seller WANTS you to be succesful! A good transaction builds their reputation. I got my start in Brahmas from THE top breeders, their advice to me has been possibly MORE valuable than the birds.

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
I agree with that I drove 7 hours to Massachussets and the gas money and driving time was all worth it once I talked to the breeder I was going to see. I also got to see pictures and videos of past birds and videos he took in England and France.

Henry

 

[Ryu]

My advice for shopping at the Ohio National is this:

Join the Breed club for your breed to get the members list, and then do some research. Look them up in the APA, ABA year books and see how they are in the point standings--get Poultry Press and read how everyone is doing at the shows. Best yet call and talk to a few breeders.

Everyone at Ohio Nationals is great, but showing up and expecting to find great stock is like buying a lottery ticket. I did that the first year and came home with nothing. The next year I arranged to pick up birds and came home with exactly what I needed for my program. Most of the breeders are exhibiting and catching up with their friends so they can be hard to find and talk to. My experience is that a good portion of the sale birds that are there are brought specifically for someone and already sold--I'd estimate 30-40%.

As far as buying eggs and chicks. I am going to disagree about being able to get quality and that 'quality breeders' don't sell chicks or eggs. You won't find many chicks at all at Ohio Nationals--there were some very young Silikes there last year but that was it. Most breeders are hunckering down for the winter and don't want the extra birds. If you are worried about disease, buying hatching eggs is your best bet. Most poultry diseases do not trasmit vertically (bird to egg). And whether you choose to buy eggs really depends on your relationship with the breeder and your breed. If you do buy eggs or chicks, figure on only 1 out ot 10 being exhibition quality.

The some of the best MGBs I have are from eggs purchased from Oregon. Don't regret buying them at all, there's no way I would have gotten that line any other way. My mentor for Doms sold me chicks, and they are beautiful--so I guess I don't have a problem with buying those either! They are more work when you buy that way, but if you're in for the long haul 6 months isn't much to wait.

As far as buying adults, again a realtionship with who you are buying from is important. Be clear as to what you want to buy. Are you buying Breeding stock or Exhibition birds? Depending on the breed that might be two very different things. Sometimes excellent breeding stock might not be the flashiest bird. A breeder who's willing to mentor you, can let you know how to start with what they sell you.

Also you won't get an exhibitor list at Ohio unless you are Exhibiting, and Exhibitors hang on to them like life preservers, so there won't be any extras. Some shows have them for sale at the entry desk, but not Ohio--at least not the last two years I was there. So If you want a list, send in an entry for 1 show pen--you'll get a list and have a pen to put your purchased birds in (if necessary).

Gook Luck!