Famous Hatchery 'Pure Bred' Appearances

[Redhead Rae]

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

I love my Cochins too. My avatar got me started and I got a bunch of blue girls for him. They are all hatchery stock, but they are nice, docile birds.

 

[BreanneRN]

I love my Cochins too. My avatar got me started and I got a bunch of blue girls for him. They are all hatchery stock, but they are nice, docile birds.

X's 3 here! I just bought more, even though I'm sure I don't need them... I had Splash and Partridge roos, 2 barred hens, 2 silver laced, 1 black, and am raising 2 new blue hens and another black hen...

 

[Redhead Rae]

X's 3 here! I just bought more, even though I'm sure I don't need them... I had Splash and Partridge roos, 2 barred hens, 2 silver laced, 1 black, and am raising 2 new blue hens and another black hen...

I've got my avatar, who I got from one hatchery, 7 blue pullets (who just started laying, YAY!) that I got from another hatchery and I have 11 blue/black cockerels who I will be sending to freezer camp soon since they are from the same hatchery I got the pullets from. One of the pullets (who is 7 months) is already acting broody.

I also have 7 Bantam Cochin/Chocolate Orp pullets that are starting to lay as well. I have 5 males, 3 of whom I want to turn into dinner. I'm hoping the pullets are super broody. I may give a trio of them to friends who raise quail so they have live incubators.

 

[Amer]

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 know. I love that book. It was more of a rhetorical question.

 

[AAchicks]

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!

Tell me about it! Once I understood it, I have it in my head that I want to develop a blue silver laced Wyandotte! They are already working on it, but I have the chickens to make it (I just lack the patience and money!)

 

[Amer]

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.

I know the best known Buckeye breeders free range their birds. I can't recall if they have conditioning cages, but they do fade after a year. No problem for young birds, and when you molt your birds, which is necessary for it's second year show anyways, new feathers come in dark and shiny. However, Buckeyes are on the extreme, as in "extremely easy to condition."

 

[Jase The Butcher]

The puffball headed chicken arose when junglefowl ate too many dandelions

Har har

 

[Jase The Butcher]

I eat dandelions and I don't have a puffy head

 

[Amer]

I eat dandelions and I don't have a puffy head

And why should I believe you? Tell me one reason.

 

[Jase The Butcher]

i could send you a picture of my shaved head lol a

amd my bowl of dandelion heads