Do you need to get your chicken from a special hatchery in order to get a show quality bird?

[HungryMabel123]

Just wondering, because i will be getting chickens soon, and me and my crazy friend who also has chickens want to show our chickens together. would i have to order them? Or does it even matter?

 

[WallTenters]

It REALLY matters. Do not order from a large hatchery - it seems that the more breeds a given seller has, the less attention they give to each breed, so often quality goes down.

What breed are you looking for? There are many reputable breeders all over the country for almost any breed you are looking for.

Also - some advice. You may be taken aback at the initial cost of show/breeding quality birds. Do not be. Better to buy a started trio or two trios if you can - consider it an investment, NOT an expense. Those birds can pay themselves back tenfold in a season if you take the advice of the breeder to heart and do right by them. Also, with the price of feed, it costs over $10 in most areas to raise each chick to a stage where you can choose who you will keep. That's $250 for 25 chicks, minimum. You might keep three or four of the 25. Better to spend $150 or $200 for three birds hand selected by a good breeder, they know what to look for and how to match up a good cockerel to pullets to help bring out the best traits.

 

[Kevin565]

I believe Stomberg's offers the option of drop shipping show quality chicks. They go pretty fast though.

 

[bwalden]

Yes depending on what breed you are looking to show and the hatchery ypu purchase from the bird can vary greatly in quality. You can get show quailty birds from larger hatcheries but you can also get some that are not. I personally like to use hatcheries and private breeders. There are LOTS of good breeders here on BYC and facebook as well. What breed are you looking for?

 

[mustangsaguaro]

Just wondering, because i will be getting chickens soon, and me and my crazy friend who also has chickens want to show our chickens together. would i have to order them? Or does it even matter?

I would go w/ a reputable breeder for birds over a hatchery any day. Hatcheries hatch for quanitity over quality. You will pay more from a breeder for a bird but in the long run it is well worth it.