advice for buying breeding stock at shows

[big medicine]

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There have been some very good points made here, from multiple perspectives. With out honesty, good ethics in most undertakings, it is destined for a short run. You bring up breeding to the standard. Now I don't know a great silky from a poor one, hell I'm not completely convinced their even really chickens, so I can't speak to that. But I have seen you listings of brahma eggs for sale, and I've seen a brahma or two. What a few folks have eluded to, but tactfully avoided coming right out and saying it is, you would do well to start over with quality stock from a top breeder.

 

[Smoky73]

I like to consider myself a quality breeder and yes, SOMETIMES I do sell hatching eggs, though its rarely anymore. I sell eggs to people who are not able to receive live birds in their area through the mail, or people who want to incubate themselves for their kids to see the experience. Some people want to take the chance of hatching, and yes, I sure do inform them that they might not get anything and genetically, mystery genes sometimes appear when you do not know the heritage of the birds in your flock. My buffs are pretty new, so they are a work in progress, that is obvious by the pictures I have. My white silkies are consistant and I do not have to hatch hundred a year to pick out a few drop dead gorgeous ones to replace my breeder. Am I just lucky? probably. Now I rarel go to shows because they just are not that many around here in my state and with work, I cannot travel often. Sure, if you attended 10+ shows a year and place high on Champions consistantly, I agree you are a quality breeder and can get to Master exnibitor or Master Breeder quite quickly. However, in the place I am at, I only attend about 3 shows a year -I would be at it a long time to get those statuses. I also do not think that blue ribbons mean anything in a good show. Heck, you can get a blue ribbion if your the only bird in that variety in that show of that breed. Same thing with BB. If your bird is the only one in that breed that day, your gonna get BB no matter. Its if you can make it to champion in your class I think that means something. With as few shows as I can attend, I have still managed to get 5 starred wins with the ABA.I would like to have done more, but time does not allow. I am not posting here to agree or disagree with anyone. I think that all people have made valid points.
Back to the original poster, If you are interested in a specific breed, go to the shows and ask the breeders. Do a lot of talking to people about the birds, the other breed exhibitors, the actual breeders, talk to the judges who judged them for sure! Join the breed club if they have one. Read the standard and read it again. of course the breeders you see at the shows and talk to will be quite partial to their own birds, thats why you should ask a lot of questions and study the breed well before buying. But, everyone has to start somewhere and something I consider a cull bird here and will not keep does not mean it would not be great to improve someone elses line or a good starting point, as long as it does not have obvious DQ's.

 

[cracked_egg]

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Thanks so much for this advice! I didn't know you could enter but not enter a bird just to get a cage!

Also thanks for the advice that most are already sold and finding a breeder before hand... Are breeders generally willing to "mentor" someone or are they pretty tight lipped about breeding trade secrets?? I contacted one guy with some questions, all I got back was a price list, it was pretty disappointing...

 

[cracked_egg]

()relics :

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

It did win champion LF and I guess it also won at a fair about an hour away (it was presented at both... The hen with him was reserve... I will say he was gorgeous and I did notice him long before they placed him... He stood out! He was HUGE! And I felt bad for him cuz he was ruining his tail in his cramped little pen, he was way to big for it!​

 

[NYREDS]

I used to consider myself a great basketball player but I doubt I would have done well in the NBA>
One may consider themselves a quality breeder but if they don't show successfully against other quality breeders how valid is their self determined status. IMO a handful of blue ribbons from a county fair does not establish one as a quality breeder.

 

[NYREDS]

Quote:
There have been some very good points made here, from multiple perspectives. With out honesty, good ethics in most undertakings, it is destined for a short run. You bring up breeding to the standard. Now I don't know a great silky from a poor one, hell I'm not completely convinced their even really chickens, so I can't speak to that. But I have seen you listings of brahma eggs for sale, and I've seen a brahma or two. What a few folks have eluded to, but tactfully avoided coming right out and saying it is, you would do well to start over with quality stock from a top breeder.

The same might also be said of the Call Ducks.

 

[Jmurcks]

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What shows stand out to the pro breeders?
Like with Poms, the national specialty was one of the best and obviously Eukanuba is one of the highest honored shows.

 

[Ryu]

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You will have to send in a Negative P/T (pullorum thyphoid) test for the 1 bird you do enter with your entry form and you do have to pay for the cage and show fees--so it's not without work/cost. I don't think they would like a bunch of empty show cages, but--you know....a lot of the exhibitors get an extra cage or have a cage where they pulled/didn't bring the bird.

If you contact breeders ahead of time, the Exhibitor list is kind of moot.

I really advise joining the breed club and making some contacts, I think you will get the best birds that way.

What breed are you looking for?

 

[Katy]

Let me throw this question out there. What if a person wants to have the best birds they possibly can but they have no desire to show? Is it truely impossible to become a reputable breeder without showing? I have neither the desire nor the time (with farm and cattle chores) nor the money to travel to shows. Can a person not raise their birds to the APA standard and be ok with that? I'd never sell my birds as SQ because I've never shown nor do I plan to....even tho they do have Show winning ancestors in their background.

 

[cracked_egg]

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Eukanuba is a feed, and there are quite a few shows that they sponsor. Yes, each breed's national is a pretty big deal (in just about any species) and as far as dogs go Westminster is probably the most honored large show.

Many dog owners, breeders and handlers decide what show to go on based on the judge for their particular breed. At any given weekend there are generally 2-3 shows withing driving range, not to mention what is available if you want to fly. ... if you are really after points for a "special" (already has championship title) generally you will chase the big shows and do a lot of advertising therefore the judge doesn't matter as much (as hopefully the dog will see three different judges), but if you have a young dog/grump that needs championship points (rather than breed standing points) then the judge does matter.... Some like typie grump and clean movers, others like a real dog-y grump or a good side mover, just depends on judge, some are really fixated on the head piece, others will forgive a less than clean head, and it will still be within "standard"....

These are the kind details I'd like to learn about chickens, but maybe only years of experience will teach me these details?