chicks from breeders vs. hatcheries

[Stevenson]

I have read a lot of people's concerns over getting chicks from hatcheries rather than from a local breeder. I am assuming that this is because with hatcheries, there might be concern that the line isn't as pure. I am just starting with chickens and see no problem whatsoever for me now (I just ordered 30 chicks from purely poultry). I can already see the addictive nature of this hobby and I haven't even received my chicks...so I am guessing that down the road I will be more interested in pure lines.

Is there something else that I am missing about getting chicks from a hatchery???

 

[Illia]

There's a thread about this very issue about a page or two back.

It isn't about purity, really. Though in many cases that can be the problem, it's about how hatcheries breed their stock, how they take care of the original parents of the chicks you get (have you even thought of that?

) and how little care goes into the quality. Consider that all hatcheries breed for is quantity. Egg production. Nothing more. So, even with the rare breeds or claimed heritage breeds, it isn't that they're preserving them - In fact their rare breeds are very poor in type and certainly not a preservation of the original breed. Then their heritage breeds. . . Are certainly not bred to live long productive lives, nor are they bred for the original dual purpose. They're bred for egg production.

I could go on, but really, this thread helps a lot

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=447037&p=1


Oh and as a final note, most of your "local" breeders are just people who get hatchery chicks then breed those together. To me, those people don't count as good or reputable breeders.

 

[Stevenson]

Thanks Illia! I'll go read the thread you mentioned!

I had not thought about some of the issues you mentioned, but I think for the first set of birds...I should still be fine. I am guessing that down the road I will be more concerned.

 

[Illia]

Well sure, I started out with some hatchery chicks like just about anyone else would. There's nothing wrong with that, I just prefer to go with good breeders after I've tried out some breeds or learned. The only sad part is that most breeds people "try out" from hatcheries are far from the real thing, both in temperament and in body. Plus there's even issues like broodiness, gameyness, egg color/quantity, etc. Those all change.