The majority of my birds are “purebreds” ordered from different hatcheries. I am fine with the quality of my birds as they suit my needs just fine. I definitely don’t breed to the SOP!
This molting season, I noticed two very unusual feathering oddities on two of my girls (different breeds.) They each have just gone through their 2nd adult molt and will be 3 yo this Spring. Both were purchased from Meyer.
The first hen is a Buckeye. After her feathers came back in, I noticed what looked like three Speckled Sussex feathers intermingled with her solid red feathers.
The second hen is my Speckled Sussex. I don’t have this feather pictured ON her, as I never would have noticed it anyway. However, I am an avid feather hoarder, and found this feather during one of my pick ups! All three feathers are from her, but the one in the middle definitely shows the lines of a Partridge coloration.
For all intents and purposes, my birds are what they were advertised as being and I am perfectly pleased with them. However, there is so much importance placed on Hatchery versus Breeder Quality and now we know why! This just goes to show that somehow, some way, genes of other purebreds made their way into completely different purebreds and, most importantly did not show up until the birds were nearly 3 years old. Most people wanting/planning “to breed for the SOP” (using hatchery birds) would have already begun with younger birds, not having a clue what actually lies underneath, sight unseen.
Just my two cents for the Hatchery/Breeder debates. There really is a difference!
This molting season, I noticed two very unusual feathering oddities on two of my girls (different breeds.) They each have just gone through their 2nd adult molt and will be 3 yo this Spring. Both were purchased from Meyer.
The first hen is a Buckeye. After her feathers came back in, I noticed what looked like three Speckled Sussex feathers intermingled with her solid red feathers.
The second hen is my Speckled Sussex. I don’t have this feather pictured ON her, as I never would have noticed it anyway. However, I am an avid feather hoarder, and found this feather during one of my pick ups! All three feathers are from her, but the one in the middle definitely shows the lines of a Partridge coloration.
For all intents and purposes, my birds are what they were advertised as being and I am perfectly pleased with them. However, there is so much importance placed on Hatchery versus Breeder Quality and now we know why! This just goes to show that somehow, some way, genes of other purebreds made their way into completely different purebreds and, most importantly did not show up until the birds were nearly 3 years old. Most people wanting/planning “to breed for the SOP” (using hatchery birds) would have already begun with younger birds, not having a clue what actually lies underneath, sight unseen.
Just my two cents for the Hatchery/Breeder debates. There really is a difference!
