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.
