- May 13, 2008
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First off are the birds you currently have Hatchery stock ??.
IMHO I would start with breeder birds, they need not be super duper SQ or very expensive but as long as they have the build and are real typey, that is a great start. Here's why............ Hatcheries Have beat this phrase Dual purpose to death and they are in no way breeding to produce any amount of flesh/meat on their birds, as egg's and egg production is the ONLY thing the strive for Period end of discussion. If your looking for stock that will truely be good table fair of decent size and keep you in egg's a heritage breed is the way to go and you can't buy heritage at any hatchery ever. You want a bird to come to the table that is at least well proportioned and not look like a rubber prop chicken the stand up comdians use LOL. And I don't mean the bird should look like a Cornish X either but somewhere in between, Heritage birds are fantastic for this and as far as their laying ability, sure they do lay for a longer period over the years but you will get just a few less egg's, but their shape and size and color will be exceptional. I am not one of those type folks who freak the hell out if their ( GIRLS) !!! don't lay for a day. Hatchery buyers will tell you all about compassion and cutsey-tutsey fluffy whatever's................. but god forbid one takes a break from laying and these same folks are ready for chicken war and then their Doctor jeckel side realy comes out if from the huggers if they under lay for one day LOL.
Heritage breeds will truely provide the best of both worlds and they look 400 bazillion times better than the hatchery mutt. they will be healthier, more robust, and be better foragers, and You need not drop the kids college fund for these either thats just another thing the cheap hatchery folks want you to believe, if it cost more than $2.00 it's way over priced balony, just look around localy and take your time .......... you will find some good heritage LF in no time. Please don't just buy a good heritage rooster and throw him in with the ugly betty's or you will just ruin the whole flock, get rid of your junk in the trunk and buy a few of the real chickens, you will truely be amazed. The best part of real heritage birds is you can hatch better birds as well and when they do hatch......... guess what.... you won't have to make a post saying....... what are these chicks ?? LOL cause they will be good pure birds not a box of chocolates when they emerge from the shell.
Now I am sure the hatchery die hards will certainly chime in to the contrary, and that's fine but you asked and IMHO experience has taught me, shoot I even bought Hatchery stock from some retail feed store bin before for like $1.20 ea. Rest assured I won't do that again, but it taught me the difference first hand. If you don't believe me go take a quick look at some real chickens at a real farm or breeders place, and you will be floored in 2 mila-seconds by looking at them. Ok so I think that about covers it pretty well.
AL
First off are the birds you currently have Hatchery stock ??.
IMHO I would start with breeder birds, they need not be super duper SQ or very expensive but as long as they have the build and are real typey, that is a great start. Here's why............ Hatcheries Have beat this phrase Dual purpose to death and they are in no way breeding to produce any amount of flesh/meat on their birds, as egg's and egg production is the ONLY thing the strive for Period end of discussion. If your looking for stock that will truely be good table fair of decent size and keep you in egg's a heritage breed is the way to go and you can't buy heritage at any hatchery ever. You want a bird to come to the table that is at least well proportioned and not look like a rubber prop chicken the stand up comdians use LOL. And I don't mean the bird should look like a Cornish X either but somewhere in between, Heritage birds are fantastic for this and as far as their laying ability, sure they do lay for a longer period over the years but you will get just a few less egg's, but their shape and size and color will be exceptional. I am not one of those type folks who freak the hell out if their ( GIRLS) !!! don't lay for a day. Hatchery buyers will tell you all about compassion and cutsey-tutsey fluffy whatever's................. but god forbid one takes a break from laying and these same folks are ready for chicken war and then their Doctor jeckel side realy comes out if from the huggers if they under lay for one day LOL.
Heritage breeds will truely provide the best of both worlds and they look 400 bazillion times better than the hatchery mutt. they will be healthier, more robust, and be better foragers, and You need not drop the kids college fund for these either thats just another thing the cheap hatchery folks want you to believe, if it cost more than $2.00 it's way over priced balony, just look around localy and take your time .......... you will find some good heritage LF in no time. Please don't just buy a good heritage rooster and throw him in with the ugly betty's or you will just ruin the whole flock, get rid of your junk in the trunk and buy a few of the real chickens, you will truely be amazed. The best part of real heritage birds is you can hatch better birds as well and when they do hatch......... guess what.... you won't have to make a post saying....... what are these chicks ?? LOL cause they will be good pure birds not a box of chocolates when they emerge from the shell.
Now I am sure the hatchery die hards will certainly chime in to the contrary, and that's fine but you asked and IMHO experience has taught me, shoot I even bought Hatchery stock from some retail feed store bin before for like $1.20 ea. Rest assured I won't do that again, but it taught me the difference first hand. If you don't believe me go take a quick look at some real chickens at a real farm or breeders place, and you will be floored in 2 mila-seconds by looking at them. Ok so I think that about covers it pretty well.
AL
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