Chicks from big hatcheries. . .

[RebelsHope]

Is the quality really poor? I mean I know that they can be healthy, but as far as the breed standard, are they pretty poor examples?

 

[Napalongtail]

Now that depends on the hatchery, the breed and the bird you recieve. Many people start their own breeder flocks from hatchery stock and slowly add in the more expensive show Quality birds as they can afford them. Once upon a time my free chick from Mcmurray went reserve best of show. Just be as informed about the breed you are interested in, order enough to pick out the best for breeders and just do it!!

 

[silkiechicken]

I agree... generally, especially for the popular breeds, most are not very good with the standard thing. If you want to show, and do it as part of a club, often you can get away with things too that you might not have in open class. Hatcheries can't really keep up with the demand if they had to cull all the non standard birds. If you are lucky though, you can get a decent bird, just have to know what to look for in the birds that you get.

 

[Chickenlover88]

I have had mixed results on hatchery birds. Most have been very poor quality but some like my RIR from mcmurray that I used to have was a beautiful deep shade of red.

 

[RebelsHope]

Thanks. I did buy that little piece of paper that it says you need if you want to show, so I guess I really can't. I didnt' really think they would be show quality chickens but I was just wondering. I have just a mixed batch of chicks from McMurray hatchery that were all supposed to be pullets. Then someone on here pointed out that I have a barred rock cockerel along with some of the pullets, so I just though. . . well maybe..

Thanks for the answers