Hatcery vs. breeder

[Black Feather]

Here is a website that illustrates very well what I'm talking about when people start calling birds by a certain breed that it really is not.

http://www.avolinofarm.com/ourrhodeislandredchickens.htm

Unfortunately this is not rare. I had someone try to tell me that a Mille fleur mutt was a rosecomb. It generally looked like a Mille Fleur Booted bantam, but had a terrible single/rose comb. I told them it wasn't a rosecomb and they didn't believe me and were almost indignant that I contradicted what they thought they knew. I had to tell them that I raise rosecombs for show before they would believe me and start to listen. Some poor beginner would have been completely misled if they had been talking to this person...and it happens all too often. It happens to me too.

Moral of the story...do as much research as possible and preferably from a recognized authority on the subject or organization like the American Poultry Association. Then at least if you buy mutt chickens you know that they are mutts

Urban Coyote

P.S: I like mutt chickens

 

[seriousbill]

Urban Coyote, I've come to the conclusion that you are a force for good in the universe

It's good to see someone tell it like it is in such a reasonable way. Just wanted to offer kudos and my wholehearted agreement.

 

[newfmadible]

Thanks for the response Urban Coyote.

I can deal with the idea of hatchery chicks being the mutts of the chicken world. I am not intending to show or breed, but want a nice hobby farm flock of friendly, healthy layers. I am willing to do my part to be sure they are safe and healthy. I am willing to research breeds to see which will best fit my requirements for temperament, laying ability, our local climate etc. So as long as most hatchery stock resembles the pure bred variety to the extent that I can make an educated decision on the likely charecteristics of the chicks I choose, I would be happy with "mutts". The same as I would be happy with a mixed breed puppy chosen the same way. I wouldn't adopt a border collie mix and expect it to be a lazy house dog that needed little exercise. I just want to be reasonably sure of what I am getting. Is it safe to assume a hatchery would fit the bill?

 

[Black Feather]

Haahaa thanks seriousbill! I try

newfmadible, I think some hatchery chicks would fit the bill nicely for what you are looking for. Again, do your own research from the hatcheries in your area to select the best birds for your own purposes.

My grandparents always had brown egg layers (probably Red stars) that were great birds, and the neighbours up the road from me have a beautiful flock of Black Stars. I would talk to people who have ordered from the place you wish to order from and find out what the birds from there are like. The way you raise your birds will also have a huge influence on how they turn out personality wise as well. If you handle birds gently and don't grab for them fast then they usually grow up being more trusting than birds that people are rough with.

Cheers,
Urban Coyote

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

Be careful when choosing a breeder. I ordered some buff silkie chicks back in october from a very well known breeder. 2 had single combs, 2 had very twisted beaks and faces, and all looked as if they were mixed colors. I was furious. Then come to find out, after posting on a silkie forum, everybody said "I bet you got them from the breeder in florida". Apparently she has also ripped off many other sending them retarded and deformed chicks.

So just be careful.

 

[blackred]

Hatcheries will have a small percentage of breeds/varieties on hand to collect eggs from but they will also contract out a certain amount of breeds to out side breeders, from whom they buy eggs from. Sometimes these breeders will sell some good eggs but mostly will have a few side breeding's just for eggs.
From what the PT testers have told me from what they have seen of these flocks, they are some pretty sorry excuses for the breeds they are suppose to represent. I am talking about the large hatcheries here, not so much the smaller specialty hatcheries.

I consider myself a breeder and exhibitor of Modern game bantam(and a few Old English), since I have been doing it for 25 years. For me( and a lot of others) it works like this.

I have 3 varieties of Moderns and 1 OE. Of these I have about 3-4 breeding pens of each. I raise approximately 350 bantams from these pens. I will cull a few early but for the most part these are raised till they are about 12-14 weeks old. At that time I will make a cut of about 40%. these I will sell for $5 each to somebody who then takes them to flea markets and sells them. Keep in mind these are all top healthy birds that all have permanent ABA leg bands on. I just want them off the feed bill.

I will keep the rest until they are about 5-6 months ( show ready). At this time I will judge them and sell what I do not want for breeders, prices vary to quality. Some of these are very good.
When it comes time to pick my breeders from what I have raised I will usually keep about 30 birds for my self, it is from these last birds that are culled that my best birds for sell will come from, some will be as good as the ones I am keeping but you can't keep them all.

I sell no eggs or chicks - and you will find this true of most (not all)of your hard core breeders

I only tell y'all all this to give some insight into how a breeder works, although this is for bantams. with Large fowl the numbers are not so high.

I know some breeders that will raise 400 of 1 variety (red pyle OE) and I know 2 breeders of Moderns that raised 1000+ this year, but they have lots of varieties and deep pockets.

Bob

 

[gritsar]

For the average backyard flock keeper, who has no intentions of getting into breeding and/or showing, there is absolutely nothing wrong with hatchery birds.
I have 18 chickens that came from a hatchery. They all look like what they are, LF brahma. They are all healthy hardy birds.
Is there anyone here that wants to tell me Thor doesn't look like a young dark brahma cockerel???

If I experienced any disappointment in my hatchery birds at all it would be because my alpha rooster, a light brahma, has a bigger comb than is expected for his breed. Big deal!
I would post you pics of the others, but I don't have time right now.

 

[mikarod]

I'm sorry...but where did you get him?

Mine came from Ideal and has more of an American back than I'd like. It's level...then up sprouts the tail...LOL

 

[blackred]

Gritsar- This was the original question-

I'm kinda new at this, so can you please explain to me the difference between a breeder and a hatchery that provides day olds and eggs.... Thanks

And as usual this kind of question always morphs into hatchery vs. show quality.
You are absolutely right in that there is nothing wrong with hatchery birds but there is also nothing wrong with wanting breeder quality birds.

Raise what makes you happy and don't look back. I do.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree that wanting breeder quality birds is not a bad thing at all. The impression I got from the OP was that they were new to chicken raising and didn't know whether they should be looking at a hatchery for their first flock or to a breeder. For the individual looking into getting their first flock just to have some egg layers a hatchery is an inexpensive and easy way to do that, IMO.
It just seemed to me from reading this thread that most everyone was pushing the OP towards BQ like the hatchery was a terrible choice, when the reality is they are not.
I don't want to show my birds or breed them other than to replace my own flock losses. My hatchery birds will work just fine for that.