Breeders?

[clkirk]

My daughter has been showing poultry for 2 years at the county fair. Her first year she placed 1st in production hens. This year what I would consider non production birds were favored. We are trying to learn how to be competitive and the number one tip we have gotten is not to buy hatchery birds, second was to get solid colored birds so they aren't DQ'd for color. Now we are in the search of birds to use in production and fancy categories that are a single color. The only breeder that we are aware of in our area sold us some mottled bantam cochins that were far from SOP. He raved about how good his birds were and how people were coming from other states to get them. This was our fault for being trusting and not knowing the SOP. We will be ordering the SOP book soon so we are better educated next time. Anyone know of reputable breeders in Ohio? We are planning on going to the Ohio National Show in November but I am afraid we will be overwhelmed by the selection. Any tips for getting started showing and breeding appreciated.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Try asking on your local Ohio thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-your-out-there.12049/page-1205#post-18821272

 

[3riverschick]

Here you go .
subscribe to the Poultry Press (website).it's the premiere show chicken newspaper. it has ads from all the top breeders. Hall of Fame breeders, lots of pictures of solid colored chickens and what they won. you're looking for an APA Master Breeder. you're looking for someone who wins in top competition over multiple Generations. someone who's been linebreeding for a long time so their gene pool is stable.
If it was me I would go to the American Poultry Association website. I would look up the Hall of Fame Breeders directory. I would find someone who was a Hall of Fame breeder or an APA Master Breeder and had a solid colored chicken I liked. then I would buy birds from them. Started birds. Not chicks or eggs. It is too late in the year for chicks or eggs. they'll probably be at Ohio show. it's possible you can buy birds from them and pick them up at the Ohio show! that's what I would do.
I would deal with no one but a Hall of Fame or an APA Master Breeder for the breed that you choose. You want that excellence of quality in a **stable*" gene pool.
Best,
Karen and the Light Sussex in Western Pennsylvania