advice for buying breeding stock at shows

[sonew123]

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I whole heartedly agree-as this is how I am. I have no interest in showing but I want the best just for me-and if I sell eggs on the side to help pay for those costs-Im good with that. Katy, your reputatuon follows you for the beauty of your birds trust me-showing or not-they are gorgeous!

Thanks.

I just think its rather nuts to think a person can't possibly breed good birds if they don't do the show circuit.

Me too-I applaud all who have the time and energy-let alone the $ to show birds-It's just not me-

 

[birdsNbeesNseeds]

Quote:
If able, I also like walking along the aisles and reading the judges' notes on the birds (i.e. nice bird, rough, good form, etc.) Good learning opportunity.

 

[cracked_egg]

First, thank you ALL so much for the input!!!

Second, I'm taking your advice! I just contacted APA to join, (I don't have pay pal acct) and their site did offer any navigation that I saw, so I'm working on it.

Does anyone have the link to the Wyandotte site? I've looked and all I see are forums... That said, I will be joining them too!

Any other tips or advice? I love the one about reading the judges notes!!! Can't wait to do that!!!

 

[cracked_egg]

Ok, on the showing thing, I truly believe you must show to have a "quality program"...

I mean this as no offense to you Katy, as I've seen pictures of your juveniles, and they are beautifully laced by my untrained eye, and your birds are one of the reasons I am so interested in show stock... I couldn't believe the difference between your wy's and the hatchery wy's.

That said, my feelings about showing come from my dog and horse background... Let's take the German Shepherd for example... If you look at pictures of show dogs from back in the 50s and then look at pictures today, there is a HUGE difference in type (this can be said for most any breed)... And even though there are differences, the standard has remained the same, it is the interpretation of the standard. I breed saddlebred show horses, we want them up-headed, bright, high stepping, etc. Yet there are people who "breed to the standard" that produce dressage type horses and still are within the standard... This is where shows come in... Poodles have changed so much over the years, that if I were still breeding for the same look I did back when I was breeding & showing them I would be left way in the dust... When we got our GSD pup, we went to a top breeder who shows, has produced show winners, produced the current top female in the country, and the current top ranked GSD in the country... We didn't go to someone who breeds to the standard but doesn't show. That doesn't mean that a great dog can't come from their lines, it just means I doubt it will be a show dog and won't take that chance.

I guess the other deal is, if a breeder isn't willing to display their stock against other breeders, (and put the faith and money into them) then they can't demand high prices, or expect the same credentials as someone who goes through the hardship, time, finances and all that is involved with putting your money where your mouth is and showing...

Maybe it is different with poultry than it is with horses and dogs, but if a breeder wanted me to buy a horse from them and they had generations and generations of horses, yet none had been shown, I would expect them to be super cheap, and I would be shocked if they had much, or any, quality (by my strict standards, I'm not looking for a 4-h horse when I look for a new prospect)..

Edited for spelling and curse word filter for female dog, lol...

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Not too much offense taken, but I do disagree with you. I think that's part of the "show snobbery" for lack of a better term that a lot of people who do show have. Often times the show stock performs in real life much worse than a well bred animal who meets the standards, but has never been shown. I know for our cow herd I'll take well bred Angus bulls over a pampered shown bull any day of the week.

As I said before I don't have the time nor the money to drive 5 or more hours one way to a show....and I don't think I would even if there were more than the one close to me.

I guess the other deal is, if a breeder isn't willing to display their stock against other breeders, (and put the faith and money into them) then they can't demand high prices, or expect the same credentials as someone who goes through the hardship, time, finances and all that is involved with putting you money where your mouth is and showing...

This is the main statement that I take offense at. Not that I consider myself a breeder, but to say just because a person doesn't show they don't put as much time and effort into their birds is pretty insulting.

I don't have my birds to try and make money off them. I have them because I enjoy them. I have let the BYC auction market set the price for the most part on my hatching eggs (none from the SLWs yet) and I have been very happy with the prices I have recieved. If I put the time, effort and money into my birds and I know they are a good quality bird I have found people want to buy them whether I've drug them all over the country to shows or not.​

 

[CityChicker]

Here I go with the self-censoring again. LOL.

 

[CityChicker]

On the issue of showing verses not showing- I honestly see both sides. A lot of people, for one reason or another, do not show. I used to show and no longer do. There are a lot of people in that boat as well. I no longer show because of...

1. Time
2. Money
3. Disease Risk

It may be easier in other parts of the country where there are more shows. Even the state fair here (which when it comes down to it, I don't really know that I would call it a "show" anyway) is like about a 3-4 hour drive. I just don't have the time or money to do it now that I work, am working on finally finishing my degree, etc... I'm fairly confident though at some point that I will go back to it.

That said, there are high quality breeders that don't show (although again, I am reluctant to even say that because then people will take that statement to an extreme and we already have FAR too many people claiming show quality stock that don't have anything near). Walking into a show hall doesn't magically make a bird "show quality". It is, however, a good indication of the potential of stock if the breeder is regularly showing and winning at APA shows. You can get good stock from other breeders as well. Just know the standard or what you are breeding for and add birds accordingly.

 

[geebs]

citychicker: Amen x 2

 

[()relics]

Show snobbery....I am down with that...but that is the way it is...want to compete with the big boys bring your birds to a show...otherwise be content to "be your own judge"...goes the same for anything horses, dogs, chickens, goats, anything

 

[big medicine]

Quote:
I thought the original version was pretty much on the money.