The difference between a breeder, a (to use someone else's term - @scflock
) propagator, and a mass producer. One breeds with a specific phenotype goal in mind; whether that goal is a published and accepted SOP or a project variety within a specific breed, or even an entire new breed. A breeder pulls the various sought-for traits together through different lines, different breeds, different varieties and, over time and through selective breeding and often heavy culling, approaches the original goal,
A propagator's goals are much more personal - perhaps meat on the table, eggs with breakfast, or to sell a few chicks to friends and family so that they, too will have meat on the table and eggs on the counter. While they may practice selective breeding, it is more for the end purpose - who grows the fastest and has the best meat or which bird produces the most eggs. What that high-yield hen looks like is way down the list.
A mass producer's goal is sales. If a specific type (such as blue egg layer) produces sales, then they want blue egg layers on their menu of choices. They are not going to grow out this year's hatches to see who most closely matches the SOP for that breed - those chicks are long gone. They are not going to cull a line of birds that are consistently producing disqualifying faults, as long as those disqualifying faults don't affect the health and viability of those chicks long enough to get them out the door. They certainly are not going to choose the best of each hatch and spend time and money to exhibit them to get qualified opinions on the direction of their breeding program. They can't - they don't have a breeding program.
Eventually, the breeder - through careful selection and tough decisions about culling - will achieve their goal, if it is achievable.
Eventually the propagator, will be self-sufficient with his group of backyard layers and, with considered introductions of new blood occasionally, will maintain his family's meat and egg needs.
Eventually the mass producer will have created a line and gene pool of birds that are so far from any standard that they will no longer be recognizable as the original breed and will split the breed into "hatchery-quality" and "breeder-quality". Unfortunately, the folks that are just getting started in the breed won't have developed the eye to see the difference, or the knowledge to understand that there is a difference until they've spent money, time, and resources trying to take that sow's ear and turn it into a silk purse.
I'm not just guessing or prophesying. This has happened in other breeds. Look at the Rhode Island Reds - even though they started out as commercial birds and then split into hatchery and breeder quality - there is a clear delineation between the two types. This isn't spin - this is what will happen.
I wasn't aware that another hatchery was already selling Ameraucana blues - if they are, then the scenario painted above will be repeated within the Ameraucana blue gene pool, too. Unfortunately, that is a gene pool that already has issues, with few breeders taking on the challenge of leakage.
I've not been a breeder of Ameraucana for decades. I was fortunate that I started with a well-respected line - Jean Ribbeck's - and I've tried to build on that line for the last 5 years. Last year, I cleaned out all my pens of non-Ameraucana and decided to dedicate my efforts purely to the Ameraucana breed. I will keep breeding my Ameraucanas to the best of my ability. I can't imagine that any breeder with the best intentions of the breed at heart, would do otherwise.
