Getting started with breeding

[Covingtonjt]

Hey guys! I often find myself scrolling through old post or articles on BYC to find helpful information but found myself needing some help on something I was unable to find a thread about. So I created an account today to get a conversation going on breeding for the SOP for Silver laced Wyandotts. I just got off the phone with Jim Adkins at the SPN. I was trying to connect with him on some SLW but he does not have a flock in his network that breeds SWL for SOP. My wife and I plan to breed a dual purpose sustainable flock for our meat and eggs. The general idea is that I am going to be breeding chickens anyway so I might as well work towards the standard of perfection while I am at it. I found the SLW SOP book at the library and I am currently catching myself up on the breed so I can know what to select for. The problem that I am running into is finding a good bird to start with. I have no intentions of buying chicks from the hatchery but I also do not want to spend 200 bucks on a trio. I have no intentions of showing - I just want to do my part to recover the standard and breed high quality birds. Is anyone else working with SLW? How did you get started?
Thanks to everyone in advance.

 

[Welshies]

You can buy from a local person who breeds SLW. Look at the parents and their confirmation and if they meet the SOP. If they are close (halfway there or more), buy 20 to 40 SL Wyandotte chicks. Raise them up.
Once they are 14 weeks to 16 weeks of age begin the select your breeding stock. Cull or sell all birds that don't meet your standards. Keep using selective breeding to enhance certain traits that will bring you to the SOP.

 

[junebuggena]

To find a breeder with decent quality birds for sale, I suggest going here.
https://www.facebook.com/wyandottebreedersofamerica1/
It's the main wyandotte breeder club. The website has been inactive for several years now, but the facebook page is very much so active.
The best route for you would be to order about 25 straight run chicks from a breeder. It will give you the best odds of some decent birds to start a breeding program from for the best price.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You could try shipped hatching eggs as a less expensive alternative. Problem there is shipped eggs are iffy on hatch rates. Even if you hatched 50% from two dozen that doesn't leave a lot of birds to select breeders from.

Rule of 10 is one in ten birds will be good. One in one hundred will be very good and one in a thousand outstanding representation of the breed. With this in mind if you got twenty birds straight run from a reputable breeder you'll end up with a breeding trio or pair. Cost of shipping live chicks from a breeder it close to getting a breeder quality trio or quad that you can start collecting and hatching birds from right away to build a flock.

Find out where and when local to you APA shows are. Go to a show and look at the quality of birds to get a good idea what you want. Birds are sold at these shows but it's hit or miss if they'll have what you want. If you found a breeder you like and they are going to the show you've a local pickup for them too.

It really pays off to do your homework in advance and make contacts. Picking up a very good quality trio from a breeder attending a show near you may be easier and less expensive than you think.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Course you may have to travel to Ohio for the Nationals there. I'm not all up on where and when all the shows are. Know there is one soon, as in a week or so, in Mass. May even be this weekend....

http://www.poultrycongress.com/

 

[ve]

Matt1616 on here has one of the best SLW in the USA. He is from Alabama, which is not far from you. Try to contact him. His father and him are very knowledgeable.

 

[Covingtonjt]

To find a breeder with decent quality birds for sale, I suggest going here.
https://www.facebook.com/wyandottebreedersofamerica1/
It's the main wyandotte breeder club. The website has been inactive for several years now, but the facebook page is very much so active.
The best route for you would be to order about 25 straight run chicks from a breeder. It will give you the best odds of some decent birds to start a breeding program from for the best price.

I actually followed this page last night! I will try to make a post if I do not receive a message from the folks I have contacted so far. Thank you so much!!

 

[Covingtonjt]

Matt1616 on here has one of the best SLW in the USA. He is from Alabama, which is not far from you. Try to contact him. His father and him are very knowledgeable.

He has not been on in a while =( Thanks for the heads up though!

 

[lazy gardener]

I would suggest finding a good breeder within driving distance then go buy 2 doz. hatching eggs. The problem with buying started birds from a breeder is that you know: the breeder will be keeping the best birds for himself and selling the birds that are not worthy of HIS breeding program. Wishing you the best. I'm fond of SLW, they are pure eye candy. However, I've not found them to be the best layers in my flock. I suggest, that in addition to breeding to SOP for conformation, that you also choose your best layers and the sons of your best layers as your breeding birds.

 

[Covingtonjt]

I would suggest finding a good breeder within driving distance then go buy 2 doz. hatching eggs. The problem with buying started birds from a breeder is that you know: the breeder will be keeping the best birds for himself and selling the birds that are not worthy of HIS breeding program. Wishing you the best. I'm fond of SLW, they are pure eye candy. However, I've not found them to be the best layers in my flock. I suggest, that in addition to breeding to SOP for conformation, that you also choose your best layers and the sons of your best layers as your breeding birds.

I can't seem to find a breeder! I actually messaged someone from a website that is 5 hours away and I have not heard back. I've been poking around on local farm swap facebook pages and Wyandotte pages. I have't had a hit yet. I don't have to start this year but I am starting to think I might want to stay open to other breeds.