Are all hatchery birds pet quality?

[Katy]

I had nothing but hatchery birds up until about 7 or so years ago. There was nothing wrong with them...they laid me many eggs and for the most part were nice birds, but I was always disappointed in how the majority of them looked as far as the breed they were supposed to be. Personally I'm very glad I made the switch to getting my hatching eggs/chicks from breeders. Now my birds look like they're supposed to. Are they show quality?...some may be but I'll never know for sure since I have no plans to show them.

Remember it doesn't cost any more to feed the birds that look like the breed they are than it does to feed a hatchery bird.

 

[NoVA Chicks]

CHIC, we're getting our hatching eggs from a farm in Bedford, VA, which isn't too far from you, I think.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

CHIC, hatchery birds are not substandard; but they are not bred to meet the standard. Hatchery birds are probably better choices if you want a heavy laying flock or meat birds. But those who purchase from an individual expect birds closer to the standard.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
Yes, Yes and most hatcheries do not represent their birds as meeting standard. But many, many breeders do when their birds do NOT meet standard. If you want show quality birds buy from a reputable breeder with a reputation and actually shows and wins. Otherwise you may as well buy from a hatchery.

It grates me when people misrepresent what they sell and then point fingers at others. And I think all healthy happy loved pet birds are pet quality. Also to maintain pure lines of any breed whether chickens or dogs or whatever inbreeding is a necessity, and hidden bad traits come out with inbreeding this is a fact. I am sure a 3 legged whatever would get DQ at a show.

Forget the hoopla decide what you want your birds for, whether they be show, pets, eggs, meat, or just lawn decorations then make choice of where to get your birds. But don't expect to pay hatchery prices for show birds, and don't believe everything your told without researching it.

One thing that always made me walk away from a car dealer when buying a new vehicle is when they put down another dealer or brand. When they were talking all I ever saw was a flashing sign over their head that said "Run don't walk, dishonest dealer"

 

[Krys109uk]

Yes, Yes and most hatcheries do not represent their birds as meeting standard. But many, many breeders do when their birds do NOT meet standard. If you want show quality birds buy from a reputable breeder with a reputation and actually shows and wins. Otherwise you may as well buy from a hatchery.

If hatcheries do not represent their birds as meeting standard or at least broadly conforming to standard then they are misrepresenting what they are selling when advertising them as any bred at all. There are certain traits that a bird needs to have in order to be called a particular breed.

hatchery birds are not substandard; but they are not bred to meet the standard.

Sub-standard is precisely what they are if they do not broadly conform to standard. The word is from the Latin sub meaning under.

For instance the dictionary defeinition of the prefix "sub":

sub-
pref.
1. Below; under; beneath: subsoil.
2.
a. Subordinate; secondary: subplot.
b. Subdivision: subregion.
3. Less than completely or normally; nearly; almost: subhuman.

I am not sayng that hatchery birds which might happen to be "sub-standard" cannot be beautiful, loveable, have great characters, be great layers, or be anything that a purebred chicken can be (apart from a show bird). To most people it does not matter what their birds look like. But facts are facts; if a bird does not broadly speaking, conform to a certain breed's standard than it is not that breed.​

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
If hatcheries do not represent their birds as meeting standard or at least broadly conforming to standard then they are misrepresenting what they are selling when advertising them as any bred at all. There are certain traits that a bird needs to have in order to be called a particular breed.

hatchery birds are not substandard; but they are not bred to meet the standard.

Sub-standard is precisely what they are if they do not broadly conform to standard. The word is from the Latin sub meaning under.

For instance the dictionary defeinition of the prefix "sub":

sub-
pref.
1. Below; under; beneath: subsoil.
2.
a. Subordinate; secondary: subplot.
b. Subdivision: subregion.
3. Less than completely or normally; nearly; almost: subhuman.

I am not sayng that hatchery birds which might happen to be "sub-standard" cannot be beautiful, loveable, have great characters, be great layers, or be anything that a purebred chicken can be (apart from a show bird). To most people it does not matter what their birds look like. But facts are facts; if a bird does not broadly speaking, conform to a certain breed's standard than it is not that breed.​

The question here never was about standard but about pet quality, but as always it seems to come around to some going off on some tangent about hatchery birds. Every hatchery bird I have bought has matched their representation of that bird. Standard in show birds is to standard of excellence that is why they are show birds. A rusted camaro is not a show camaro and if it has duct tape and bailing wire that was not standard does not change that it was or is a camaro. I do not know one hatchery that misrepresents their birds the same cannot be said for some breeders. Again you can have a purebred chicken with three legs or one eye or crossbeak, they defiantly are not standard for the breed but they are that breed. By the census bureau standard a person can be called a race if they have only 1/8 of that blood line, I don't agree but that is the way it is. Hatcheries are way above 1/8 and some could even be purebred but still not meet standard. This is why people who breed to show cull their birds because they do not keep purebred that does not meet standard.

 

[Promiselandfarm]

If you want the SLW I would suggest that you go with a breeder to get the size and look. If you just want okay looking and maybe small then go with a hatchery. I bought my SLW from a guy in Cadz KY and they were huge beautiful birds. They have done very well as how birds but not good layers. So this year I took them to the state fair...won and sold the them. I need something that lays well and looks good. So you may be able to mix the hatchery layers with the show birds to get the best of both worlds. Not all show birds or show quality birds will lay the egg quantity one may want. I know my son bought show Cochins and well they don't lay worth a hoot but he keeps them because they are quality birds.

 

[Krys109uk]

A rusted camaro is not a show camaro and if it has duct tape and bailing wire that was not standard does not change that it was or is a camaro.

A rusted "Camero" would probably still conform to type; it would still be the same shape as other "cameros" of that model. Other than that I doubt chickens & cars can be compared.

I do not know one hatchery that misrepresents their birds the same cannot be said for some breeders.

Absolutely.

Again you can have a purebred chicken with three legs or one eye or crossbeak, they defiantly are not standard for the breed but they are that breed.

If they, broadly speaking, conform to type then they could be said to be that breed.

By the census bureau standard a person can be called a race if they have only 1/8 of that blood line, I don't agree but that is the way it is. Hatcheries are way above 1/8 and some could even be purebred but still not meet standard.

It doesn't work the same way with chickens. If a bird,, boadly conforms to type & reproduces true to type & does what the breed is supposed to do then it can reasonably be called that breed.

This is why people who breed to show cull their birds because they do not keep purebred that does not meet standard.

Most people who are particular about standards will be culling birds which do, broadly speaking, conform to type but are not as good as certain other examples of the breed that the breeder owns. Such birds will often be good starter birds for novices. At the other end of the scale there are no perfect birds, just very good ones.​

 

[WalkingWolf]

Kyrs do you breed for profit, or sell hatching eggs or birds?

I do, but I am just curious about others weighing in on this. Because we are seriously off topic from what the OP posted.

 

[Krys109uk]

Kyrs do you breed for profit, or sell hatching eggs or birds?

No, not since leaving UK.

I'm not so sure we're so very far from topic. Aren't we discussing the general quality of named breeds sold by hatcheries?
But I'll stop discussing it if you prefer.​