Feed store chicks Show quality?

[2seth2]

If i went into a feed store knowing the breed standard and pickking a chick with no DQs would i have the same chance of gettin a SQ one as buying the from a breeder?

 

[groundpecker]

Probably not. The chicks came from a hatchery, thus they are bread for production of eggs/meat and not showing. If you want quality birds, then by them from a reputable breeder.

 

[2seth2]

ok say i get a bantum silkie it has correct toes and free of all other DQs is it still a lower chance becuase of hatchery stock?

 

[welasharon]

Yes, show quality silkies from breeders are going to mature to fit the show standards befitting a silkie. The hatchery ones are going to have smaller crests, incorrect coloring and may have other non-show quality attributes that will not be overly apparent till they are older. I have one silkie from a breeder and she is noticeably nicer, with a fuller crest than two other silkies that I bought as pet quality...one of them has a straight comb! There is a reason that hatchery birds cost less....the quality is less. Now, there is always the possiblity that you COULD get show quality....just kinda like winning the lottery...doesn't happen to many people!

 

[1muttsfan]

There is not enough difference in chicks at that age to separate the average from the excellent, you can only see the most obvious faults. And you are very unlikely to get any better than average from feed store chicks.

 

[Illia]

Like previously said. The only thing you'll be able to judge with chicks is crest/vault size, beard/muffs size or presence, 5th toe presence and quality, and a general idea of color quality but not always.

But, chances are, a feedstore/hatchery Silkie won't make it well in a real show. Most hatchery type Silkies I've seen are nothing like the show ones.

 

[2seth2]

thanks for the help

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Not a silkie person. But raised a hatchery(H) Buff Orpington with show quality (SQ) Buff Orpingtons last year. Could tell no difference at all!


Then at about age 3 weeks the SQ were slightly larger than the H. Then at 2 months there were more changes. We still have the hatchery Buff Orpington pullet. We will use it as a demonstration at fairs and shows to show the differences. It will be entered as a hatchery Buff Orpington. We need to take a photo with them side by side. Same age, just from different sources.

You can try to gamble, spend lots of $$$ on feed and in the end, still have to go to a breeder for quality. Hatchery birds may be healthy, but you don't get a show champion dog from a pet store. You do not buy a champion bull from a sale barn. You locate the top breeders and acquire from them.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Silkie is one of those breeds where the difference between hatchery birds and breeder birds is enormous. If you want the beautiful fluffy birds like you see in the photos, buy from a breeder.

There are several really good breeders of silkies on BYC. You should be able to find some quality birds if you invest a small amount of effort.