Does Anyone Show there Chickens Anymore

[galanie]

Thank you but no, I might have $50 at one time for the eggs but I do not have the $180 for ONE BIRD. Period. Don't confuse lack of funds with lack of desire.

Edit: Desire is the wrong word. Commitment perhaps. Yet some time I probably will have to suck up and save my pennies and do just that. There is a fellow that I know that has some really nice ones that I may some day get a roo from. It will just take some time to get that kind of money together. You really don't know people's finances. When I was still working I could do that, but now that I'm retired and disabled, things are really different.

 

[Narragansett]

It's all about expectations. Don't claim to want to be doing something that you're not capable of.

All exhibition fancies cost money, and I've been involved with just about all of them except for sheep and horses. By far, poultry is the least expensive of all. But it still costs some money, especially if you want to do it right, not substandard.

 

[chicknadventure]

Thanks for this thread-I am a newbie, I refused to buy from the TS when I decided I wanted chickens, as I KNEW there had to be a better way. I have now gone through the "woops, I sold you the wrong breed" "woops, I sold you all roosters" and "woops, sorry that bird is sick" rounds with supposed "breeders" in my area.

So now, I have finally found a REAL breeder with quality stock, and am pretty much starting over. I bought my first chicken 4 months ago, and FINALLY feel more on the right track. And yes, I am coughing up "bigger" bucks than a $3 chick. But I will know what I am getting.

 

[galanie]

It's all about expectations. Don't claim to want to be doing something that you're not capable of.

All exhibition fancies cost money, and I've been involved with just about all of them except for sheep and horses. By far, poultry is the least expensive of all. But it still costs some money, especially if you want to do it right, not substandard.

I said I had one good hen and wanted more good stock. And actually, I just want good, strong, dual purpose stock that is what it's meant to be, not a bunch of skinny hatchery wannabes. And why can't I want something I can't afford at the moment? Really, must you be so down on people wanting to better their stock?
Edit: that 180 dollar rooster would be 100 w/out the shipping. And those $50 eggs would be $35 w/out shipping. Thats why I asked if Mr. Blosl knew of any within 200 miles.

 

[chicknadventure]

sometimes, starting locally with better quality is a great way to stretch your dollar. It may limit the breeds you have access to, but eventually you will get your dream birds.

 

[blackred]

It seems that hardy no one shows there chickens anymore. Why is this? Is it becasue the chickens are so hard to come by to get to show or people are affraid to show because the dont want to get beat.??

For those that may not know it, Robert is just exaggerating for effect here to get a conversation started. Also as far as I know he is not a Poultry Judge( as suggested) but there are probably 5-10 judges who roam this board and probably 50-100 people who are exhibitors.
While I don't know Robert I have seen his threads and articles on the Internet. He is obviously a long time poultry man who has a lot of knowledge and patience to work with beginners. I admire him for that.
But I do wish he wouldn't exaggerate in this thread just to get responses, some newcomers may not understand what he is doing and take it wrong.

Bob Choate
Blue Texas

 

[blackred]

For myself, I don't because the shows are too far away. With the prices of gasoline, I'm just not willing to drive 200+ miles to show a chicken. Also, it is difficult for many to even know when and where the shows are.

There is a website- Bluebonnetclassic.com that will give you a list of the shows in Texas. There are at least 3 of them in your area, maybe not just down the road but less than 200 miles. Beaumont, La Grange and the largest show in Texas the Bluebonnet Classic in College Station.
On this website you will also find a list of P/T testers for each area. Dan Dykes is your tester and he is very good at testing peoples birds quickly. If you have any problems with this part just PM me and I will help.
Also if you are looking for Orpingtons there are a couple of breeders in your area, at least in Texas.

For the record there use to be about 6-8 shows in the Houston area with about 4 different poultry clubs. The times changed, people passed and no one was left to carry on. There is a movement now to try and generate the exhibition interest again in that area. The Brazos Valley Poultry Club is doing everything it can to start the fire down there again.
Bob

 

[galanie]

Upon reflection I want to clear up what could have been misunderstood before. I do not think anyone's SOP Poultry is overpriced. I never stated that I would not pay a certain amount, I stated that I can not pay it. Further, having a rooster go through the mail is still chancy. It could die in transit. I'd be much more comfortable picking up live breeder birds myself than trusting the post office with them.

I have defended breeders prices on this site often. I believe that good breeders should be paid for that hard work and not be expected to "give away" any fine birds.

 

[mississippifarmboy]

Upon reflection I want to clear up what could have been misunderstood before. I do not think anyone's SOP Poultry is overpriced. I never stated that I would not pay a certain amount, I stated that I can not pay it. Further, having a rooster go through the mail is still chancy. It could die in transit. I'd be much more comfortable picking up live breeder birds myself than trusting the post office with them.

I have defended breeders prices on this site often. I believe that good breeders should be paid for that hard work and not be expected to "give away" any fine birds.

I understood what you meant Galanie. I've said pretty much the same thing and been misunderstood myself. There's a huge difference in something being worth the money and in having that much money to spend at a given time.

I've personally driven over 350 miles to pick up breeder age and started birds. It was cheaper and safer in the long run than having them shipped.

I just sold a pair of birds for $140.00. Everyone said I was nuts to ask that much. (Well, it was actually a breeder pair and 5 chicks from a week old up to about 8 weeks old) The thing is, by my calculations, I had around $150.00 in the pair of breeding birds counting what I paid for them as chicks, shipping, feed, bedding, brooding cost and such. Sounds like a lot of money, but I actually LOST $10.00 or so.

 

[Oregon Blues]

What happens when the post office stops shipping? I predict we are going to learn because it is going to happen. Services are being cut and they already don't like shipping chicks.

My prediction is that there will be no shortage of chickens. The country is full of hatchery stock which will be turned into breeding stock because suddenly there is a market for chicks.

It won't take long before we see hundreds of small hatcheries located close to towns big enough to have a few feed stores where chicks can be trucked in. One thing Americans are still good at is small business start-ups. Small hatcheries can't compete with the huge national hatcheries, but those guys will be out of business the day that the post office stops shipping.

Breeds will become localized and the selection will be a lot smaller. I doubt that there will be any increase in the desire to breed to the standard. Flocks that I see around here are mixed barnyard flocks and that's all people are aiming for. Hey, maybe we will see some landrace breeds develop as birds stop moving around the country.

In my opinion, shipping expensive birds is high risk for beginners. They haven't been in the game long enough to learn reputations and there are a few "breeders" out there who will take money and ship junk or ship sick or bug infested birds. I think most poultry breeders are honest, but it would be a blow to spend serious money and learn after you received your birds that you had chosen one of the few who talk a good story but won't hesitate to cheat you.

Personally, because I believe that the post office will stop shipping poultry, I am getting my flocks in order so that I can still do what I want without having to bring in new birds from so far away that I can't drive to get them (and I've driven some fairly far distances to keep birds out of the hands of the post office)