Getting started with breeding

[junebuggena]

It just takes time. Prime hatching season is still a few months away. You can't sell eggs or chicks if the adult hens are still on winter break.

 

[junebuggena]

https://www.facebook.com/Dark.Star.Farm
Try this breeder.

 

[Covingtonjt]

Thank you so much for your advice and help!!

 

[lazy gardener]

That is always a possibility. Also, something to keep in mind: Just because someone calls themselves a breeder, that may not mean anything! Some folks buy an assortment of hatchery birds. They end up with an oops rooster. So, the next thing you know, they are calling themselves a "breeder" of what ever breed the roo and matching hen happens to be, and selling chicks and eggs at "breeder" prices.

Do you have a flock right now? If not, this is my suggestion: Order an assortment of chicks from a hatchery. Get a minimum of 3 birds of each breed that interests you. You might choose birds according to what you think will sell well in your area. (ask on your state thread what birds folks seem to like) Often, the bird that you THINK is an absolute MUST HAVE comes up lacking when you have her in your flock. Case in point: I'm quite enamored with PBR, though I never gave them the time of day until I ordered some last spring. They are wonderful layers, and have a nice personality. It's possible to start with hatchery birds, and breed forward towards SOP. Harvey Ussery quoted one such experiment where hatchery quality Colombian Rocks were greatly improved in terms of conformation, and body weight in the span of 3 generations!

 

[Covingtonjt]

That is always a possibility. Also, something to keep in mind: Just because someone calls themselves a breeder, that may not mean anything! Some folks buy an assortment of hatchery birds. They end up with an oops rooster. So, the next thing you know, they are calling themselves a "breeder" of what ever breed the roo and matching hen happens to be, and selling chicks and eggs at "breeder" prices.

Do you have a flock right now? If not, this is my suggestion: Order an assortment of chicks from a hatchery. Get a minimum of 3 birds of each breed that interests you. You might choose birds according to what you think will sell well in your area. (ask on your state thread what birds folks seem to like) Often, the bird that you THINK is an absolute MUST HAVE comes up lacking when you have her in your flock. Case in point: I'm quite enamored with PBR, though I never gave them the time of day until I ordered some last spring. They are wonderful layers, and have a nice personality. It's possible to start with hatchery birds, and breed forward towards SOP. Harvey Ussery quoted one such experiment where hatchery quality Colombian Rocks were greatly improved in terms of conformation, and body weight in the span of 3 generations!

We do have a flock right now! In fact we have some "Silver Laced Wyandottes" from a group of eggs we hatched this Spring. I use that term likely because I actually picked up the breed standard book and they would be disqualified because they have feathers on their shanks. We also have some Golden Comets we got from a hatchery a few years ago. About 60 birds total. We love our birds but we are looking for a sustainable flock. That is why we want to go with a dual purpose heritage breed. We want to be able to breed for a perfection while selecting birds that produce.

 

[lazy gardener]

Feathered shanks are a definite disqualifier. Also a dominant trait. Good news: they can be bred out in a single generation.

 

[Covingtonjt]

Feathered shanks are a definite disqualifier. Also a dominant trait. Good news: they can be bred out in a single generation.

That is good news! I really appreciate all the information. If we are unable to get good stock this year, we will just work a little with ours or pick a different breed. I really wanted to get birds from the SPN but they have a very limited number of flocks! (Also mostly single colored birds because its easier to get the colors right I guess?). I'll keep bugging people until I find someone that will take my money and give me good birds!