Breeder questions

[marvun22]

After some info, I decided I will probably get a group of chickens in 5 years from breeders, instead of a hatchery. I have a couple of major questions. One breed I would get would be an Orpington. I would like to get almost every variety such as: White, Buff, B/B/S, Lavender, Jubilee, Golden Laced, Red, etc. Other breeds I might want: Wyandottes- Golden Laced, SIlver Laced, Blue Laced Red, and Blue. Jersey Giants- Blue, Black, and White. Ameraucanas- Wheaten, Blue, and Silver Duckwing. Black Australorps and New Hampshires. Remember, I'm not getting all of these, these are just some I'm interested in. Now here are the major questions. Where can I get these breeds? Are the show quality chickens sold on stromsbergchickens.com ones that meet the SOP and are of the same quality as the ones breeders sell? What is a good price for SOP chickens? Which SOP chicken lays best? If I was to sell SOP chickens, what do I need to do to get NPIP certified? Can I sell them as baby chicks, or do I have to wait until their adults to make sure they meet the SOP? Do I have to prove to whoever that my chickens are pure bred before I sell them (I might let them all mix and mingle during the winter and some of the spring season. I'd just separate them when I was going to hatch)? Can I make my own line of chickens? Could I cross Red Orpingtons and Golden Laced Orpingtons until I had the GL feather pattern except with red feathers. This is just an example, I'm not sure if this is possible. Also, how many Orpington breeds are there out there? I would want to get as many different ones as I could get.

p.s. Oh my gosh, I forgot Chocolate Orpingtons. They come in large fowl form right?

 

[Jordi15]

I am very interested in the answers you get from experienced chicken folk.... I also, someday, would like to raise many different colors of the Orpington. Maybe sell hatching eggs and chicks... Get npip certified... Eventually learn what it takes to raise show quality birds.... (DAYDREAMING) I love my buffs, they are cold hardy, tolerate the hot weather pretty well, very friendly, go broody once in a while, consistantly lay eggs, great table bird... They're just a great all around chicken! I hope someone answers all your questions soon so I can learn along with you!

 

[marvun22]

I am very interested in the answers you get from experienced chicken folk.... I also, someday, would like to raise many different colors of the Orpington. Maybe sell hatching eggs and chicks... Get npip certified... Eventually learn what it takes to raise show quality birds.... (DAYDREAMING) I love my buffs, they are cold hardy, tolerate the hot weather pretty well, very friendly, go broody once in a while, consistantly lay eggs, great table bird... They're just a great all around chicken! I hope someone answers all your questions soon so I can learn along with you!

Orpingtons are my favorite breed too, by a longshot. I haven't butchered any of mine, but I agree with all of your other opinions. I can't butcher them because I like them too much.

 

[Jordi15]

I like them too much too! But I knew when I started this chicken adventure it was for eggs and meat first, pets last. So when it comes that time to butcher... My hubby gets to do it. I have done it once but it was a mean, mean brown leghorn bantam rooster. He flogged me twice and made me bleed, then jumped on my head at dark when I went in to check on them. That was the last straw!! When you're p****d its easy! When you love them its best to look away while hubby takes care of it. i know its for meat... I won't kill anything unless we are gonna eat it. Unless of course its causing a problem on my property.

 

[marvun22]

I found a website that has them. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad deal because I'm not sure what good prices are. It is http://www.rockin-g-ranch.com/TheFancyChick.html It has lots of breeds of orpingtons. I don't know anything about them other than that they sell lots of different orpingtons. Here are the prices http://www.rockin-g-ranch.com/fancychickorders.html It has day olds, started, and pairs.

 

[Jordi15]

Wow! $25 a chick for blues goodness gracious. I was thinking, when I'm ready, I'm gonna order some hatching eggs and see how that goes first. If I'm gonna buy chicks I will try and find a breeder near me, to cut out the shipping costs.

 

[marvun22]

I was thinking about hatching eggs as well. Since they don't sex day olds, the eggs are cheaper and are straight run as well. And I'm certainly not paying for pairs. Except that that website doesn't sell orpington hatching eggs.

 

[Jordi15]

I know I need to buy eggs from a breeder not a hatchery. I'm willing to pay more for good bloodlines rather than paying less for hatchery stock... Does npip certified mean they are better?? I need to do more research on that because I've found hatching eggs on eBay sold by breeders that are npip certified. I'm not sure I want to order from eBay tho. There's also the egg auctions on this site but I have to post so many posts and be a member for so many months. Research! research! I did find a thread on here somewhere about npip cert here in az. Maybe if you try the search bar you can find the regs for your state.

 

[marvun22]

Lol, I thought I found a website that had Orpington eggs of numerous varieties. Then I realized they were in England and they woudn't ship to the U.S. To answer your question, you have to be NPIP to ship chickens, whether they are the rarest in the world or cross breeds.

 

[marvun22]

tell me if you find anywhere that has Orpington hatching eggs.