Diary & Notes ~ Air Cell Detatched SHIPPED Chicken Eggs for incubation and hatching

[cochins1088]

i am just offering advice, here - there is more than one way to think about $150/doz hatching eggs. i have paid more than that for eggs, this is meaning to inform; not to offend.

by spending that on a common breed like black cochin bantams, and knowing the breeder; you will be certain to get some very nice stock. if you are planning on showing, this is an excellent way to get the chickens you need. you have also opened the door to someone who is knowledgeable in the breed and knows your lines. his knowledge is invaluable to you. the down side is not all chicks will be show quality, and breeding a show quality trio is not always the best way to go. you should have enough diversity with your group to be fine.

another way of looking at it is, if you bought $150 in live chicks you can control your cockerel/pullet ratio (through some places). you should be able to find them from a "good" breeder for $5 (or less) each. you wont have as many show quality, but you have alot more to select from. selling the extras at the right times can pay for the ones you decide to keep, and the feed bill for them to that point. of course if your wanting to show, this could put you a generation off. but you will certainly end up with respectable breeding stock.

if your not looking to show, or breed for show it really wont matter where you get them from. you will still enjoy watching them out in your yard and hearing the rooster crow in the morning.

just food for thought, and decisions i have to make all the time.

Yes, I want them for breeding and I hope to begin showing.

His breeding stock is excellent and there are no doubts in my mind that whatever hatches will become good quality breeders, however, not all the chicks will become top notch show birds. You correct that the breeder's knowledge will be an in-valuable resource. He has been breeding his line of black cochins for well over 50 years.

Chicks from other sources probably won't be of the quality I'm searching for. Thanks for posting; it definitely gave me some things to think about.

 

[mstricer]

You could also go to shows and check out the birds and decide to buy there. That is what I do with my d'Uccles. Buy at a National event

 

[cochins1088]

You could also go to shows and check out the birds and decide to buy there. That is what I do with my d'Uccles. Buy at a National event

I thought about that, but I imagine that there's a much higher risk of disease. I try to practice bio-security to the best of my abilities.

 

[chicksooner]

I thought about that, but I imagine that there's a much higher risk of disease. I try to practice bio-security to the best of my abilities.

I think what they mean is that by going to shows you can meet the people that are showing/breeding these birds and they probably will sell hatching eggs and chicks or even a pair or trio. The risk of disease is no more than normal. People who show tend to take special care of the show bird and none of us wants our birds to get sick. Sometimes it happens but not enough to really worry about. It is more about meeting the right people. Just practice good quarantine with whatever you buy.

 

[cochins1088]

Quote:
It's true that people take special care of show birds, but some people also use certain vaccines. I was talking to one breeder who shows all across the country and he told me the he uses the CEO laryngotracheitis vaccine. Since he uses that vaccine, his birds are carriers of the disease and will shed the virus when they're under stress. The fact the he shows all over and uses this vaccine worries me, and he's not the only one.

Thankfully Cochins International provides some grade resources. I can find the top breeders and their contact information fairly easily.

Thanks everyone for the insights, they're truly helpful!

 

[familypendragon]

Help! See post here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831100/5th-chick-dying-in-my-hands-right-now-help Have to leave the house now for son's ARD meeting which has been rescheduled 5 times already and we are out of time so I can't miss it. Will check back in for opinions when I get back just before my mom and I start vaxing everyone for Fowl Pox.

 

[TweetyNPetey]

I set 6 eggs today... 2 EE, 3 Silkies, and a mystery egg.

 

[sumi]

Help! See post here https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/831100/5th-chick-dying-in-my-hands-right-now-help Have to leave the house now for son's ARD meeting which has been rescheduled 5 times already and we are out of time so I can't miss it. Will check back in for opinions when I get back just before my mom and I start vaxing everyone for Fowl Pox.

Sorry, I couldn't get further than the first few posts

It's just too sad. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this now

 

[sumi]

I set 6 eggs today... 2 EE, 3 Silkies, and a mystery egg.

Nice! Good luck with the hatch!

 

[chicksooner]

Oz-everyone OK?