Tarwaters up north still has there Chick days. Looks like they are still using Heart Land Hatchery. The add on Craigslist says they will be in Topeka at Tarwaters on the 26th of March. Just don’t know how much stock he will have.
Consolidated Kansas
- Thread starter ChooksChick
- Start date
I know some breeders got out last year due to the bans & disease, it was just too much for some. Things have started slow for fertility & hatching for me & I know others are reporting the same. I just had my first hatch the 18th with more to come but fertility on that one wasn't great. It is improving as there are longer days though.
Yep, I know a lot of us do this as a fun hobby. But some do it for a business. I can’t imagine running a business that “can’t” sell its product for a year and has no control over if they can sell it next year. That would be hard to explain to a shareholder/husband or wife. LOL…….
Heartland hatchery is a one guy operation and he doesn't care about the quality of birds or how healthy they are. First hand experience from years ago. Just sayin. It's just handy to have him come in with boxes of chicks and sell them all in one day.
Lots of breeders sold out last fall and some were forced to cull their entire group of birds. It was pretty sad.
More egg layers were effected than hatcheries though. Most of the hatcheries get their birds from eggs received from a number of different breeders. Fortunately many of those breeders are in the southern states so they weren't as affected by the AI scare. Plus the can hatch earlier in the year due to a better climate.
Last year really hit me with a financial mess due to having so many birds hatched when the bird flu hit. I sold them all but many were half grown and I sold them cheep for what they were. I still hatch but am taking orders this year so I actually have a market lined up. Wish all the birds would cooperate a little better though.
I have some birds from Heartland hatchery. All my birds are healthy now, but when I got the golden laced wyandottes they were too small and weak to sell. But, I was a first time buyer so I got them. It’s not a good sign when you have to ask if the golden laced wyandottes are bantams. I will say my Heartland hatchery birds are good layers. But knowing what I know now. I’m done buying hatchery birds.
I think most people start out with hatchery birds - they are easily accessible and when you don't have connections or know how to find better quality birds, it is easy to place an order or buy during chick days from the feed store. We've all done it and some of my hatchery birds are personal favorites for sentimental reasons. Many people go their whole lives with only hatchery birds and if all they want is a few eggs for their table, they'll be perfectly happy.
Once I learned more and researched a lot, I too decided no more hatchery birds for me. Although I've been lucky with mine - the only health issue I've had with a hatchery bird was a 2-year-old hen with a vent prolapse - health issues are more likely because hatcheries don't take a lot of care in their breeding practices. Not to mention they're not always completely honest about their birds. What they sell as purebred often has leghorn mixed in because leghorns are sensational layers and what most people want are lots of eggs.
What completely sold me was visiting a guy who has bred heritage barred rocks in a line that goes back over 100 years. The visual difference in them - their size and barring - compared to the hatchery barred rocks I had in my flock, was astounding. But I was even more surprised when I brought home a few of his birds and found their temperament to be so completely different it was hard to believe these were nominally the same breed. Hatchery BRs have a reputation for being bossy and none-too-friendly for the most part. The heritage BRs are calm, quiet, gentle and kind. If there is a scuffle between hens, the heritage BRs are simply NEVER the problem.
What annoys me most about hatcheries is they categorize them as "layers" "meat" or "dual purpose" but the reality is that all hatchery birds are built to be either egg layers or ornamental. A BR is technically a dual purpose bird, yes, but by the time hatcheries have diluted the genes by adding in leghorn to make them better layers, they've also reduced the size and made them too scrawny to be used as a meat bird. Same with every other dual purpose breed they touch.
If you truly want dual purpose breeds - you have to get them from a reputable breeder who is breeding to maintain their true and intended characteristics.
Once I learned more and researched a lot, I too decided no more hatchery birds for me. Although I've been lucky with mine - the only health issue I've had with a hatchery bird was a 2-year-old hen with a vent prolapse - health issues are more likely because hatcheries don't take a lot of care in their breeding practices. Not to mention they're not always completely honest about their birds. What they sell as purebred often has leghorn mixed in because leghorns are sensational layers and what most people want are lots of eggs.
What completely sold me was visiting a guy who has bred heritage barred rocks in a line that goes back over 100 years. The visual difference in them - their size and barring - compared to the hatchery barred rocks I had in my flock, was astounding. But I was even more surprised when I brought home a few of his birds and found their temperament to be so completely different it was hard to believe these were nominally the same breed. Hatchery BRs have a reputation for being bossy and none-too-friendly for the most part. The heritage BRs are calm, quiet, gentle and kind. If there is a scuffle between hens, the heritage BRs are simply NEVER the problem.
What annoys me most about hatcheries is they categorize them as "layers" "meat" or "dual purpose" but the reality is that all hatchery birds are built to be either egg layers or ornamental. A BR is technically a dual purpose bird, yes, but by the time hatcheries have diluted the genes by adding in leghorn to make them better layers, they've also reduced the size and made them too scrawny to be used as a meat bird. Same with every other dual purpose breed they touch.
If you truly want dual purpose breeds - you have to get them from a reputable breeder who is breeding to maintain their true and intended characteristics.
With hatchery birds you get whatever you get. They're not necessarily even pure bred a lot of the time because they cross them with other breeds to get pretty birds & good layers. They're not usually to APC standards & the focus of the hatcheries is numbers, how many they can ship out the door, not quality at all. They ship them before they're really old enough to take the trip well. I try to keep my chicks for a few days to get them stable & thriving first before sending them to their new homes. If you want true breeds that are healthier & higher quality go to a reputable breeder.
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Well grr.....I guess I'm going to have to pen my turkeys and I hate to do that. I have one hen who started to lay but it didn't seem like I was getting that many eggs. I have only 4 eggs laid in more than a week's time. I was letting her collect a clutch but then the weather turned cold and I didn't want them to freeze so I had to bring them in. I put a wooden egg in their place so she wouldn't think her eggs and been stolen and move the next to a hidden location. I checked today and no turkey eggs - and no wooden egg either!!! It is too early for snakes but I can't imagine what else could have taken a wooden egg. Where she was laying was under a hog shelter within my lagoon fencing. The dogs don't have access. We have seen musk rats in the lagoon but they haven't bothered us in the past. However I'm guessing that is what is taking the eggs.
So - I guess I have to pen the turkeys in order to not have the eggs stolen - poor girls
So - I guess I have to pen the turkeys in order to not have the eggs stolen - poor girls
Well grr.....I guess I'm going to have to pen my turkeys and I hate to do that. I have one hen who started to lay but it didn't seem like I was getting that many eggs. I have only 4 eggs laid in more than a week's time. I was letting her collect a clutch but then the weather turned cold and I didn't want them to freeze so I had to bring them in. I put a wooden egg in their place so she wouldn't think her eggs and been stolen and move the next to a hidden location. I checked today and no turkey eggs - and no wooden egg either!!! It is too early for snakes but I can't imagine what else could have taken a wooden egg. Where she was laying was under a hog shelter within my lagoon fencing. The dogs don't have access. We have seen musk rats in the lagoon but they haven't bothered us in the past. However I'm guessing that is what is taking the eggs.
So - I guess I have to pen the turkeys in order to not have the eggs stolen - poor girls
Awww that's the pits, I know you like your turkeys to be free, but I also know you need those eggs & poults. That's weird about the wooden egg though!
I have my Sebbie Goose in their hoop coop sitting & she seems to be sticking with it. I sure hope she hatches those eggs. I have three broody hens now, two in my breeder coop & one little bantam Cochin hen in her pen. She loves sitting on eggs, so I decided to just let her this time since it's warmer than the last time he decided to sit on eggs.
I thought I'd post a couple of baby pictures (at 1 week) of my little Campines. These are all different chicks (of the 13 hatched).
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