Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[JeffOeuf]

...My BRs have white legs and their tails are so far up in the air that it would take a wench to get them down again....but then, I've never intentionally tried, so I could just be spittin' in my own hat.

But..that's probably a hazard with any type of breeding.

And I know just the one for the job.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I have been lurking on this thread for quite a while soaking up all I possibly can, just like everyone else.I grew up in rural Oklahoma around A LOT of people that kept good-sized flocks, but since my great great grandmother, our family has not had them. My mom was also of the generation that seemed to be slightly resentful of rural life, though she's thawing out in her old age

.

Though until Spring I won't have any personal experience with chickens, I was particularly interested in the spirited discussion about genetics and breeding for characteristics, quality of breeders, etc. Part of the interest is that I have been beating my head on a wall trying to find local poultry. I figured if I could I might forego the idea I had about buying from Meyer hatchery. That conversation got me thinking...I realize these observations are a day late and dollar short, but I wondered if I couldn't offer a slightly scientific standpoint and flex my philosophical/academic muscles for a second.

It seems to me, in the limited dealings I've had with genetics, that what hatcheries breed out, you should be able to selectively breed back in to higher quality birds. Though it would certainly take a few generations and culling sessions, I don't see any reason why someone (like Bee, especially) couldn't wind up with outstanding stock from humble beginnings. Thinking of the genetics as a puzzle that major sellers remove pieces from, by selectively breeding and culling for missing traits, I don't see why you couldn't end up with something just as close to breed standard as some direct line descendants. Granted, you would have to be very diligent, I think it's possible to achieve wonderful quality from "big box store" type hatcheries. I like to think that prime traits for each breed are scattered throughout all those hatchery chicks, just waiting to be put back together, like the hatchery left the "puzzle frame" and scattered the pieces around.

Okie dokie. Done waxing philosophical. Carry on!

You can do this, depending on your goals. But after 5 years of disappointment and oft times, a high level of frustration you may change your mind. I can tell you this. In some birds from the hatcheries today, and it would a total and complete crap shoot, you may get enough to work with, but my experience, for what it is worth, is the odds are against you. There no hatcheries, to my knowledge, with a tightly barred Barred Rock, a proper New Hampshire, Delaware, Rhode Island Red, etc, etc etc. For most breeds, the hatcheries simply do not have them. None. The genes simply aren't there to work with, no matter how long you tried. That is very sad to say, but that's my take. FWIW. The breeds I like, I adore and wish to keep simply must come from breeders. Just a reality.

If you start out with great stock, you can have that immediate satisfaction and then, work at keeping your flock up to standards, both of appearance and performance.

You can go either way. 30 years ago, I would have simply said, "Sure, that's a good enough plan", in upgrading a hatchery stock base. Now? I've got to say quite honestly that the weight in tilted far, far to one side on this deal. That's just an honest reply.

 

[Beekissed]

And I know just the one for the job.

Sorry...winch. My automatic spell check has been spittin' and sputterin' on me in my old age.

 

[Geoscba]

By no means am I saying feasible...but just throwing that out hypothetically. With the way all the Ag industry is going (monsanto and the like) I'm not surprised we don't have robo-stock by now. If you weren't breed concerned at all, my first instinct is just to get some breeds I like that I believe would have complementary traits and let them become mutts and see what becomes of it...

You never know! If you cull right and have an eye for that sort of thing, you could end up with the tastiest, best egg laying Barnevaustrasummer you ever saw!

 

[Beekissed]

Fred, what is the minimal chick order from most good breeders? Is there a number below which they don't recommend for shipping?

 

[Fred's Hens]

Fred, what is the minimal chick order from most good breeders? Is there a number below which they don't recommend for shipping?

Some won't sell eggs. Some do sell eggs. That's about the best way to get a minimum. You'll hatch anywhere from 5 to 10 chicks successfully, out of a dozen shipping eggs. Inexpensive too, really, depending on the Postal Service gods as to whether or not their shining on you that week. If you get a great hatch, you wouldn't have $4 a chick in them, which is dirt cheap for good birds.

Of course, some breeders will sell you a small box, say of 10 straight run chicks. Not a big problem if the weather is good. Also, just buying stock at a show is a good way to see what you're buying, as an adult or juvenile, either way. You gotta, gotta really, really, really want adult birds shipped, due to the cost of shipping.

As life takes you there.......... is one of my favorite expressions. A trip, a wedding, a vacation, a business trip, etc, if you had reason to go past one of your chosen breeders homestead at the right time? Hey, you just never know. Sometimes this stuff is just meant to be.

 

[JeffOeuf]

As life takes you there.......... is one of my favorite expressions. A trip, a wedding, a vacation, a business trip, etc, if you had reason to go past one of your chosen breeders homestead at the right time? Hey, you just never know. Sometimes this stuff is just meant to be.

After Fred re-posted Robert Bosl's picture of the award winning New Hampshire, I'm thinking life is going to take me about an hour Northwest of where I am right now come late February.

 

[Fred's Hens]

After Fred re-posted Robert Bosl's picture of the award winning New Hampshire, I'm thinking life is going to take me about an hour Northwest of where I am right now come late February.

 

[Fred's Hens]

I thought of this thread when I saw this..........

This I like, Kathy.

 

[Beekissed]

Fred, I hope you don't mind but I borrowed the pic in your avatar to put on my other thread in order to make a point on the differences between utility BRs and breeder quality. Is that ok? If not, I'll squash it into neverland.