Buckeye Breed Thread

[Pathfinders]

Cute pics! I like the sleepy one the best.

 

[PortageGirl]

I have a question, what do you all think could be done about trying to get hatcheries, at least small ones to try to sell better quality birds? I mean, I don't think it would put the real breeders out of business, but it sure would be nice to improve even what the small chicken owner might get from a hatchery?

 

[Quirky]

Great photos. It looks like they had too much fun on Spring Break.

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
I don't really think its a business for most breeders, but a hobby.
Quote:
I don't think there is anything wrong with it. But, why not start with the best you can?

 

[PortageGirl]

Quote:
I don't really think its a business for most breeders, but a hobby. I don't think there is anything wrong with it. But, why not start with the best you can?

Ummm, that's my point. I guess I don't understand yours, or we aren't getting each other's.

I'm not dreaming of hatcheries ever being able to provide Buckeyes that completely match the SOP for the breed, but it sure would be nice if they'd get closer to the standards at least.

I know it's not so they can make wild profit when it comes to folks who are selling chicks here, but it's probably close and while I don't think they're making a mint, I sure hope it's at least mitigating the cost of improving their own flocks, plus it gives them a better pool to select from, and helping some of us smaller folk get some excellent birds.

I'm not dreaming of going to hatcheries and telling them how to run their businesses either. I'm just wondering how the stock there could be improved too I guess. I suppose in the end, it's up to them to the individual hatcheries to acquire the best stock they can... forget I said anything. Going to go crawl back to my corner.

 

[punky rooster]

I think breeders and hatcheries both have their place on the poultry world. Hatcheries go by quantity not quality, Good breeders go by quality not quantity.
I am unsure if I do understand your point though, sorry.....

 

[BuckeyeDave]

It is exactly like buying "fresh eggs" from Wal-Mart, yes they are eggs but there is a guy down that dirt road just out of town that sells "fresh eggs" off of his porch, making sure every carton is cared for and that his investments in the hens and roosters are long term and that they are well cared for with plenty of quality feed and pasture.

The product may be named the same and looks similar but the quality does not compare.

A large breeder is driven by profits, how many chicks can go out the door, the small backyard flock is cared for and loved by the breeder, concerned about the breed and the chicks instead of the profit margins.

Your call.

 

[PortageGirl]

Well, I did say at least the smaller ones, there are still a few of them out there, though I suppose even they are interested in getting larger which does limit what they can do about things.

 

[buffalogal]

Just my 2¢, but what it will take is breeders of quality stock supplying good birds to the hatcheries in order for them to upgrade. With just a couple of extra males, and some advice on culling, a hatchery could begin producing chicks that, while they might not be class winners at an APA show, would at least be better representatives of the breed. I remember that Mark Fields sent birds from his top winning "Unbeatable Beauty" line of Dominique bantams to Cackle Hatchery in Missouri for just that reason. If all the public ever sees are fat, fluffy, "Rose Comb Barred Rocks' passed off as Dominiques, or WyandotteXRIR crosses sold as Buckeyes, they will have no understanding of what makes the breeds unique and desirable. If a "Dominecker" is just a bird with "black and white stripes", or a Buckeye is just a red one with a small comb, why would anyone go to the trouble of locating the real McCoy? OTOH, if more people realized that a real Dominique is a tight feathered, lively bird that excels at foraging and free ranging, and the Buckeye is actually a productive, dual purpose fowl that shrugs off extremes in temperature, there might be more interest in ordering these rare breeds as opposed to the more common sex links, or production Reds or Barred Rock.

 

[Quirky]

OT, but David, have you updated your signature lately? I like it.

I like the Walmart egg comparison, too. I think it's an apt comparison. As a noob to keeping chickens, I can say there are many of us who have an inkling that we could do better with our food sourcing, and we think, "OK, I'll keep a few chickens (maybe some think chickens come in three colors and that's that)" and then we come here to BYC for info. That's when I, for one, got a tad overwhelmed by talk of the "standard of perfection" and other potentially intimidating phrases. At the moment, I'm just focusing on taking care of the ones I'm going to have and reading as much about Buckeyes as I can. Those two priorities are manageable, and they make an educated "consumer."

I think the lady I spoke with from the small hatchery was surprised when I asked where her birds come from. She was even more surprised when I asked, "Well, of the dozen or so breeds you offer, which are you most interested in?" We had a good conversation, and I got to know her and her motivation better. I'm sharing part of my burgeoning chicken adventure because I think it's small flock types who can take responsibility for knowing what we need and want from providers of chickens (hatcheries, breeders, feed stores). Having an informed customer base will motivate them to keep standards high.