Calling all APA and/or ABA breeders!

[333113]

I wasn't expecting anyone to ship, I wanted to know if there was any money in it. See, the ABA offers a scholarship, and it would be cool to get that, just wanted to make sure I wasn't blowing out more money than I was getting.

I personally don't make money. But that's not a goal, for me.

During the laying season I sell hatching eggs, generally $30/dozen and the buyer pays for USPS shipping. The feed, shipping materials, etc., all come out of the $30. I think I could charge more and make more money, but my goal is to get these rare-breed birds out there to people who will raise them and keep the breed going.

I also sell backyard layers, $10/chicken and $15/duck. I live near the Saint Louis suburbs, so I can get those prices. I also sell trios or pairs and chi at swap meets, and sometimes a single bird for show to a 4-H-er or junior. This gives me a way to "cull" birds I don't want or need.

My excess eggs go to the local food pantry, because with selling hatching eggs it's hard to predict how many eggs will be available for eating. I hardly ever have excess roosters, because I show roosters and sell some of the winners, but that may change with COVID-19 closing down the shows. I have a sliding scale for pricing birds, higher for those who have showed and won, lower for birds with defects that a judge may downgrade or disqualify for.

Seems like I would be raking in money, but there's feed, and times of the year (fall and winter) when there's not a lot of demand.

But while I am not making money, I am getting my hobby subsidized! And I have great compost for the garden (my other hobby)!

I had a one year membership in the APA in 2019 so I could buy the standard. I bought hatching eggs for both Bielefelders and Mille Fluer D'uccles. Hoping to start selling chicks from the Biels and showing the D'uccles.

Looking at the pics of the Mille Fleur pattern that someone posted I have a LOT of work to do.

Uploading pictures of my D'uccles and my Biels. My D'uccles just started laying and I got a broody hen at the right time so YES.

Mille fleur coloring is a serious time investment for a breeder. I can show a Crevecoeur or a Delaware cockerel or pullet at 6 months plus one day, and they pretty much look like an adult, only somewhat smaller. A mille fleur colored bird won't look like a true mille fleur until full adult feathering happens, and then they are gorgeous. And they are usually even better by second and third molt.

Mille fleur coloring also visibly ages, that is, the white portion of the feather gets a bit larger with each molt. I have a seven year old who is still laying, but she is nearly white. I am going to try to get a good picture of her for you.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

Mille fleur coloring is a serious time investment for a breeder. I can show a Crevecoeur or a Delaware cockerel or pullet at 6 months plus one day, and they pretty much look like an adult, only somewhat smaller. A mille fleur colored bird won't look like a true mille fleur until full adult feathering happens, and then they are gorgeous. And they are usually even better by second and third molt.

Mille fleur coloring also visibly ages, that is, the white portion of the feather gets a bit larger with each molt. I have a seven year old who is still laying, but she is nearly white. I am going to try to get a good picture of her for you.

Thank you so much!!
Here's hoping my birds get more of their white speckling. The MF cockerel shown in the pictures is my best one. I only have two though... so not much to choose from.

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I personally don't make money. But that's not a goal, for me.

During the laying season I sell hatching eggs, generally $30/dozen and the buyer pays for USPS shipping. The feed, shipping materials, etc., all come out of the $30. I think I could charge more and make more money, but my goal is to get these rare-breed birds out there to people who will raise them and keep the breed going.

I also sell backyard layers, $10/chicken and $15/duck. I live near the Saint Louis suburbs, so I can get those prices. I also sell trios or pairs and chi at swap meets, and sometimes a single bird for show to a 4-H-er or junior. This gives me a way to "cull" birds I don't want or need.

My excess eggs go to the local food pantry, because with selling hatching eggs it's hard to predict how many eggs will be available for eating. I hardly ever have excess roosters, because I show roosters and sell some of the winners, but that may change with COVID-19 closing down the shows. I have a sliding scale for pricing birds, higher for those who have showed and won, lower for birds with defects that a judge may downgrade or disqualify for.

Seems like I would be raking in money, but there's feed, and times of the year (fall and winter) when there's not a lot of demand.

But while I am not making money, I am getting my hobby subsidized! And I have great compost for the garden (my other hobby)!

Mille fleur coloring is a serious time investment for a breeder. I can show a Crevecoeur or a Delaware cockerel or pullet at 6 months plus one day, and they pretty much look like an adult, only somewhat smaller. A mille fleur colored bird won't look like a true mille fleur until full adult feathering happens, and then they are gorgeous. And they are usually even better by second and third molt.

Mille fleur coloring also visibly ages, that is, the white portion of the feather gets a bit larger with each molt. I have a seven year old who is still laying, but she is nearly white. I am going to try to get a good picture of her for you.

Wich st. Louis.

 

[Amer]

Here is one of my semi-retired Booted Bantams with his d'Uccle hen, both mille fleur color, and a foster Houdan. Houdans are not usually setters, and mine are definitely not! So I have to go to another breed or two for expert parenting.
View attachment 2261982
His sibling is being raised by a Rose comb Nankin pair:

The mille fleur pair raised last year's 1st place Ohio National Crevecoeur cockerel and his sibs, plus a white easter-egger. You can see how gentle the roo is, and lets the chick feel daddy's comb with his beak:

I don't have good show pictures this year, no shows!

Wow! I love that Booted! You don’t see those every day. The Nankins are also adorable, along with the Houdan chicks.

 

[BantyChooks]

I currently have a small-time operation of Buff Chantecler bantams. I have had some fertility and hatchability issues, with how new the line is, but I managed to get 7 birds from my first pairing and 2 from my second this year---last year, only two survived to adulthood. I find them to be enjoyable birds and wish to help them continue to establish themselves as a newly ABA accepted variety.

 

[Amer]

I currently have a small-time operation of Buff Chantecler bantams. I have had some fertility and hatchability issues, with how new the line is, but I managed to get 7 birds from my first pairing and 2 from my second this year---last year, only two survived to adulthood. I find them to be enjoyable birds and wish to help them continue to establish themselves as a newly ABA accepted variety.

Oh, that’s terrible! It’s always crazy to me how determined some people can be to breed with those kinds of losses. I gave up on Dominique bantams, Ameraucanas, Brahmas bantams, Welsummers, and Wyandotte bantams because of that.

 

[FluffyBottomBantams]

Thank you so much!!
Here's hoping my birds get more of their white speckling. The MF cockerel shown in the pictures is my best one. I only have two though... so not much to choose from.

I’m guessing that one little pullet will get more spangles. She’s already got even markings at that age so it’ll probably come in evenly. Though she’s most likely going to be pretty white pretty quick because she’s already got so much. But They’re all lovely! I love d’Uccles, theres something about their little faces and the beards

 

[BantyChooks]

Oh, that’s terrible! It’s always crazy to me how determined some people can be to breed with those kinds of losses. I gave up on Dominique bantams, Ameraucana s, Brahmas bantams, Welsummers, and Wyandotte bantams because of that.

Ordinarily, I would be tempted to throw in the towel, but I think it's a worthy project. An ambitious one, perhaps, but as long as I have a bit of success I shall continue trying.

 

[SBFChickenGirl]

I’m guessing that one little pullet will get more spangles. She’s already got even markings at that age so it’ll probably come in evenly. Though she’s most likely going to be pretty white pretty quick because she’s already got so much. But They’re all lovely! I love d’Uccles, theres something about their little faces and the beards

Thanks for the good news! I keep looking at them, judging them way too harshly for how young they are. They were born end of February!

 

[BantyChooks]