Breed Poll - help me decide

[Sparklee]

Quote:
You're going to tell us later, right?

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
You're going to tell us later, right?

The reason is because I HAVE to focus on narrowing down the breeds I work with. My problem is that I love them all. I figure I can see what is more popular (thus easier to sell culls) and at least have that information to HELP me decide.

I live in E TN... I can't give Barnevelders away here... or Coronations... or Light Sussex. I have 4 Light Sussex that have been for sale for almost a full year and price isn't a factor... no one knows what they are!!!

 

[tnchickenut]

It looks like BRs are in the lead. That's kinda surprising to me.... hmmmmm

 

[TK Poultry]

If you get the BRs get the really pretty heritage ones!!

 

[tnchickenut]

Quote:
I got some hatchery and some XW line (Thompson line going back to the turn of the century pure) so, yeah, that is about the best quality you can find in BRs .... though I didn't want to say it and sway votes. I got some really good stock in a few of these breeds... I'm not tellllliiinnnnnnggg

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
Uh, oh. Not good.

So I guess your market research is a really good idea. It sort of comes back to the value of the chicken and what it's used for.

I voted for New Hampshires because that's what I actually do have, though I would have gotten Coronation Sussex when I was starting out with NHs if I could have afforded them. Actually, I'm not sure any were even for sale yet. Can't remember. But I do remember wanting them that year.

Too bad you can't just say in the ad: "Coronation Sussex, the best chicken for this part of Tennessee. Tasty eggs and tasty bar-b-cue." Or maybe: "The royal chicken that was invented to please kings is now available to grace your lawns and flower gardens. Be the first on your block to own a flock!" (Hear the rhyme?) Are you close to Nashville? Some there might know what your breeds are. I know my husband's cousins in Tennessee, though, would not be tempted by fancy royal chickens.

Who was it that recently had a country chicken song. Was it something like Brown Chicken, Brown Cow? I'm not sure that has any bearing on things.

Coronations are so beautiful. I'm making do with Speckled.

Not quite the same, but they are very sweet and easy going chickens.

At least with New Hampshires, they could be marketed as "Like a Rhode Island Red, but friendlier." Or similar. Something you would feed good about, but would explain that New Hampshire is better than a popular local breed that everyone knows of.

Good luck at figuring out your market and what they want.

(I hope that means that I have my fingers crossed for you.)

 

[tnchickenut]

Sparklee....

Exactly my point, it's really hard to properly breed (hatching and raising and judging and selling pairs) if you get stuck with all of them. I have a true blue country girl farmer friend who is one of the few I allow over to the house to see the birds and she saw the Light Sussex and fell in love. Maybe she'll open up a new market talking them up. I'm hatching her a few she liked them so much ... AFTER seeing them in person.

Around here alot of people (and I work in a feed store, so I get to talk to a wide spectrum of chicken owner types) they have "chickens" - you ask what kind, they say "black ones" or "the ones that lay eggs" Then you have the next catagory would be the ones who have "Dominickers" or "Reds" or "Bantys".... of the ones who like to know what they got and what they are good for... those people just don't KNOW about much more than Barred Rocks, RIR, Welsummers.... and for some reason Polish are popular here but they are not known as Polish... they are "top hats".... you say Polish and they look at you cross eyed.

And yes, I caught your rhyme. LOL

 

[tnchickenut]

4 days now and BRs are still in the lead. Hmmmm

 

[tnchickenut]

Why is it no one out of 40 people chose bantam Delaware?!?!?!? WHAT!?! That is just outright weird to me.

This is very eye-opening, though, so thank you all for your continued voting.

 

[Sparklee]

Quote:
If that a rhetorical question, ignore this answer.

I can't think why I'd want a bantam Delaware. I'm trying really hard to figure out what any of the advantages might be. It's not like I haven't had a Standard Delaware before. But they were like any other chicken. I like their plumage design, but not enough to buy more any time soon. Bantams in general aren't that interesting to me. I do have a couple just for fun, but one is a Cochin and the other is a Sebright. I got them because they were closing them out at the feed store because no one else wanted them and there were about 30 bantams chicks they were trying to get rid of. Bantams seem impractical, but are cute. Something different. But I wouldn't build a flock of them because I prefer bigger eggs. Can you just imagine how many bantams I would step on? I have enough trouble with standard size chickens. Also, in my mind, and I'm probably just uninformed, I think of bantams as being able to fly and, therefore, more difficult to manage. (keep out of the garden or catch) I think of them wanting to get in the trees. I think of the males as being more aggressive than Standard size males. They lay a smaller egg. I've heard they lay less frequently which means more chickens to have to keep track of for the same weight in eggs. I think I've also heard that because of their size they don't always do so well in winters where it gets below freezing for months on end.

Now, of course, none of what I've written above may be based on fact. That's sort of how market research is ... finding out how people see the product, what their biases are, what they views are, their perceptions ... whether they're wrong or right. That way the marketer of bantam Delawares can already have all the answers to any possible reasons for not buying the bantam Delawares. So that's what I think of when I think of bantams. I have no idea what others think of when they think of bantams.

Yeah, I'm not trying to be rude or hurt anyone's feelings. I'm trying to give you honest information (my perception) for your market research and I think the market research is a great idea. I know people get attached to breeds and their chickens. I do, too. I just can't think why I'd want a bantam Delaware. Sorry.