Famous Hatchery 'Pure Bred' Appearances

[Ladybird CA]

The puffball headed chicken arose when junglefowl ate too many dandelions

 

[BantyChooks]

There is an excellent book that helps to answer this question. It's "Why Did the Chicken Cross The World?" by Andrew Lawler. He researched the history of the domestication of the chicken. Even had genetic testing to try to determine which species of jungle fowl was the progenitor. He tracks the spread across the world, (and back again, in some cases). It is a good discussion of how the "why" you want chickens, influences how the chicken changes. I recommend it.

I own that book & I recommend it too. Quite interesting.

 

[RNK Farms]

I know that when people do shows most birds are separated into cages that are inside as the sun dilutes the color and richness of the feathers. This may not be for all breeds however everyone that I have talked to about bantams and Seramas have this policy. We wash our birds every 3 weeks and fluff them out It could also be the food. Using a high quality feed also helps and as much fresh organic fruits and vegetables you can provide. Also for us we keep moving the male to a different female each day so our hens aren't stressed and over worked. It is also where you get your chickens most feed stores pay low prices to offer customers chicks at a discount. Remember you pay for what you get if you want quality it comes at a cost.

 

[BreanneRN]

Well, quality is to a certain extent, subjective. And there are a lot of different qualities to breed for and depending on the individual person there can be a lot of different priorities for those different qualities... The secret is to find someone that has been breeding for awhile that prioritizes the same qualities you would. Then, just maybe, you will get what you pay for... (but only if that breeder is willing to part with his better stock and not stick you with the culls).

 

[MROO]

Lol, I was going to add if you know horse color I could give a comparison! Yes, the blue gene is a dilution gene just like the cream gene in horses! Where no copies, chestnut, one copy is palomino, and two copies is cremello.

The lavender gene would be similar to the black vs red gene. Need 2 red genes (or lack of black pigment gene rather) to get a chestnut. Just one black gene will give a black horse. Same with black vs lavender chicken!

Man, I think I understand just enough of this to make it dangerous! Do NOT let me play with genetics - we'll likely end up with that rooster-cat we saw earlier!

 

[MROO]

Well, quality is to a certain extent, subjective. And there are a lot of different qualities to breed for and depending on the individual person there can be a lot of different priorities for those different qualities... The secret is to find someone that has been breeding for awhile that prioritizes the same qualities you would. Then, just maybe, you will get what you pay for... (but only if that breeder is willing to part with his better stock and not stick you with the culls).

Hatcheries definitely have their place, and you can start there if that's your best or only choice, but I'd still go private, if possible ... and with some homework beforehand. If your breeder is any good and has been doing it for awhile - even the "culls" can be good quality, especially if you're just starting out. Think of it as starting "in the middle" instead of way back at the beginning!

 

[Golden Brahma 64]

Golden Brahma:

What they should look like:

 

[BreanneRN]

Hatcheries definitely have their place, and you can start there if that's your best or only choice, but I'd still go private, if possible ... and with some homework beforehand. If your breeder is any good and has been doing it for awhile - even the "culls" can be good quality, especially if you're just starting out. Think of it as starting "in the middle" instead of way back at the beginning!

While I appreciate what you are saying, and agree that if you want to show, a good, private breeder who will do right by you would be the way to go, I really think hatcheries are "the middle". They are not producing the worst bird you can buy. Those can be found at swap meets and in people's backyards, some of whom will pretend and present themselves as reputable breeders to the innocent and unwary, even though the birds they have are barnyard mixes, or worse, have deteriorated to the point that they look like barnyard mixes, even though they are not. I am older and have no interest in showing and my self-esteem is not dependent on having the "worlds best chicken". I really don't much care what other people think at this point in my life... I'm happy with my hatchery birds, think the hatcheries do a pretty decent job for the average person who wants to have some chickens... If I think they need a little tweaking, as quickly as they reproduce, it can happen in a short time. And would I be selecting to the SOP? Probably not, at least not what the judges can see at a show. I would be selecting for broodiness in my Cochins because I want them to hatch turkey eggs, and bigger, brighter eggs in my EE's. A reliably nice, calm, steady temperament, so I don't have to listen to alarm calls over nothing all day, and health and soundness, and last but not least, the ability to get along with each other and me! So far, I haven't found the birds I have ordered to be necessarily lacking in any of those areas, but those qualities are what I would select for going forward. And yeah, there is always that one that is just "pretty".

 

[BreanneRN]

Golden Brahma:
View attachment 1527957

What they should look like:
View attachment 1527958

I really like the top one! She is beautiful!

 

[MROO]

While I appreciate what you are saying, and agree that if you want to show, a good, private breeder who will do right by you would be the way to go, I really think hatcheries are "the middle". They are not producing the worst bird you can buy. Those can be found at swap meets and in people's backyards, some of whom will pretend and present themselves as reputable breeders to the innocent and unwary, even though the birds they have are barnyard mixes, or worse, have deteriorated to the point that they look like barnyard mixes, even though they are not. I am older and have no interest in showing and my self-esteem is not dependent on having the "worlds best chicken". I really don't much care what other people think at this point in my life... I'm happy with my hatchery birds, think the hatcheries do a pretty decent job for the average person who wants to have some chickens... If I think they need a little tweaking, as quickly as they reproduce, it can happen in a short time. And would I be selecting to the SOP? Probably not, at least not what the judges can see at a show. I would be selecting for broodiness in my Cochins because I want them to hatch turkey eggs, and bigger, brighter eggs in my EE's. A reliably nice, calm, steady temperament, so I don't have to listen to alarm calls over nothing all day, and health and soundness, and last but not least, the ability to get along with each other and me! So far, I haven't found the birds I have ordered to be necessarily lacking in any of those areas, but those qualities are what I would select for going forward. And yeah, there is always that one that is just "pretty".

You are absolutely right! My backyard pets are hatchery birds, but my daughter's show bantams are from a reliable breeder - and they are all nice biddies!
Most hatcheries do a decent job and they do strive to have healthy, hardy birds. And all backyard breeders select for what they want - be it SOP or "Ooh, wouldn't that be pretty or interesting." ... and it's all good. That's also why it's a good idea to do a little bit of homework before you get birds ... from anywhere. And I'm also right behind you on temperament. If they're not "a reliably nice, calm, steady temperament," then out they go. We need the hatcheries. And we need private breeders, not just because of the services they provide, but to make these discussions more interesting!

btw - I LOVE Cochins! If I had more room, those would definitely join my flock ... regardless of their origins!