Exhibition lines from cackle hatchery? RIR, Plymouth rocks, wyandottes

[jeremywestlake]

Wondering if anyone has ordered the exhibition type RIR's or Plymouth Rocks from cackle hatchery, and any feedback? I am just getting back into raising poultry after a few years away from breeding silkies/cochin bantams and would like to start with 1 of these 2 breeds. Obviously buying direct from a breeder is a better option, but it's been a challenge so far and don't mind the project.

 

[Amer]

Cochin bantams and Silkies are very common. I’m sure I could find a breeder. Which state are you located in?

 

[jeremywestlake]

Cochin bantams and Silkies are very common. I’m sure I could find a breeder. Which state are you located in?

I am looking for feedback from people who've purchased Rhode Island Reds & Rocks from Cackle as they claim to have exhibition lines. I used to raise cochins/silkies - not anymore.

 

[DarJones]

I don't know the status of Cackle's RIR or Rocks, however, I can give a comparison point on the Silver Laced Wyandottes as they used genetics from Jerry Foley http://www.foleyswaterfowl.com/ Jerry's birds show good to very good conformity with size, shape, and patterning. They carry one comb type gene that is not in the standard but overall is not a bad gene to have as it helps prevent cold damage.

What about the hatchery SLWs? Pure lines tend to go downhill if not regularly culled for the best representatives of the breed. As with most hatcheries, their chicks are a mix with some good and many bad. If you purchase 100 chicks, about 10 of them will be good enough to establish a purebred breeding flock. So my advice is to do just that. If you purchase them, get enough that you have some stock to select for the very best and then breed from them.

This is one of my young hens derived from Jerry's SLW's. She will lay blue eggs and have pretty good SLW phenotype. http://selectedplants.com/miscan/slw.hen.jpg