Duck eggs at a farmers market?

[CelticOaksFarm]

Lav Orps are aroject color, meaning they need to be worked on to improve the look of them. To just hatch and then breed those chicks for eggs to sell for hatching w/o looking for flaws, and a goal of improvement is not helping the Lav Orp project, and results in inferior chicks being sold to uneducated hatching egg buyers. There is a huge problem with BC Marans right now because of the jump on the quick buck popular egg bandwagon. Be sure you don't just breed for hatching eggs to make a buck, but that you educate yourself on what the Lav color needs to be improved. Like you need to have black Orp stock also that is quality stock to help along your Lav to SOP for Orps.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Quote:
Their really just going to be pets. I wont be doing any breeding really. I also didnt realize that they had problems with the color? I guess I will just keep them as pets then

thanks COF.

 

[m.kitchengirl]

Are there any good bakeries local to you?
I'm a baker by trade, that is why I started to raise ducks - I know what they do for my baked goods.
Many bakers would love to buy eggs regularly from someone reliable, if you brought them to them. We're also so busy we don't often get out to the farmer's markets as much as we'd like.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

m.kitchengirl :

Are there any good bakeries local to you?
I'm a baker by trade, that is why I started to raise ducks - I know what they do for my baked goods.
Many bakers would love to buy eggs regularly from someone reliable, if you brought them to them. We're also so busy we don't often get out to the farmer's markets as much as we'd like.

Actually we do

I might contact them... Your awesome!​

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Quote:
Their really just going to be pets. I wont be doing any breeding really. I also didnt realize that they had problems with the color? I guess I will just keep them as pets then

thanks COF.

They have body type issues that need improving, size issues as well (talking Lav Orps) but that comes with project colors too. So yes keep the, as pets and enjoy the, and eat the eggs, but unless you are willing to build a breeding set up, study the breed standard and buy quality breeding stock to breed your Lav Orps with and then the offspring back to the quality they are better off being pets.

There is much more to it, but this is the short story version lol.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Quote:
Their really just going to be pets. I wont be doing any breeding really. I also didnt realize that they had problems with the color? I guess I will just keep them as pets then

thanks COF.

They have body type issues that need improving, size issues as well (talking Lav Orps) but that comes with project colors too. So yes keep the, as pets and enjoy the, and eat the eggs, but unless you are willing to build a breeding set up, study the breed standard and buy quality breeding stock to breed your Lav Orps with and then the offspring back to the quality they are better off being pets.

There is much more to it, but this is the short story version lol.

Actually the person I bought them from got the eggs from her lavender orpington pen, so does that still make them not good enough? Im sure there is much more to it

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Yes there is more to it, they are a project. So the person you bought from may or may not be working to the Orp SOP. They might have gotten some and is enjoying having the, (which is fine) but is now selling the eggs with out (possiblly) telling the buyers what issues need working on in the lines they have. The entire Lav Orp line needs work as it is new and a project. So yes you would still need to set up a breeding program, bring in quality stock, cross out, back in, cull heavily those chicks who meet the improve,ent you are working on. So on and so forth for a few years to come. This isn't to say the eggs couldn't be offered for sale. However they would need to offered for a low reasonable price and listed as a project with what is being worked on. That's of you want to be honest about the breeding stock and quality of the potential hatchlings.

There is an entire thread dedicated to the Lav Orp project and improving it. We are setting up breeding pens for the same reason currently to work on project breedings.

Oh and again, becoming NPIP for your state is important for wanting to set up breeding programs and offering eggs for hatching and hatchlings for sale. Spend some time reading your states laws on selling eatting eggs from your farm, what they require. Every state varies some and it would be good for you to read up on it.

Also read up your states NPIP requirements.

Most states have the info on the State Ag web site, you can also google (your state) NPIP to find that info.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Wow, if I knew this I would have just gotten blues blacks, and splashes

oh well. They are just pets. And I wont be keeping many. Do the other colors like blues blacks and splashes need that to?

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

I know the Lav is a project color not accepted yet. The others I am not personally sure of. However any color of any breed always can use some work and requires seperate housing and culling of hatchlings to better the breeding stock. Be it improving odd size, weight, egg color (marans) tail carry, back line, eye color ect. It is never as simple as buying pure bred eggs, hatching them, and breeding those for eggs. there should always be an end goal, something to work towards for improvement since the "perfect" bird does not exist. It requires lots of time and willingness to grow out birds that may not be up to par and willing to cull those and keep going.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Quote:
Well, is it kinda like hatchery quality VS show quality? Cause if it is then I really dont care. Even if I did I couldnt put breeding pens up like that, my limit is 5 or 6 chickens. So I cant really do alot with that

thanks again!