Can anyone HELP???

[BeardedLadyFarm]

The term "poor quality" means they could be a recognized breed, but would be a poor example of the breed. A lot of what the big hatcheries sell still resemble the true breed, but would be considered poor quality by show standards. Many mixed breeds can also resemble recognized breeds but are poor examples of the breed.

Mixed breeds can still lay very well, often better than the show birds. They can still have great temperaments, often better than show birds...

I have both, and frankly my mixed breeds are sweeter, and lay better than almost all of my show quality stock.

If they're not from a hatchery, and you know where you got them, can you find out what kinds of hens and what kinds of roosters they keep? If it is important for you to know, than this information would be helpful in making guesses.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Agreed with everything thing said there.

Except the statement on the temperaments better than show birds thing. . . . Hatcheries breed for production, so they don't put much thought or focus into temperament except to cull out gaminess (which is no harm to people anyway) Thus you get things like the common aggressive strains of RIR's, Barred Rocks, Sex Links, etc. In show quality breeding, a bird needs to have good temperament to be shown, handled, and especially to be a dual purpose bird around the property, which most are. Show Quality/Heritage Rhode Island Reds for example are extremely contrasting to hatchery type, and one of those differences is in temperament.