Hatcheries v. Private Breeders...the good, bad and the ugly...

[sjshaw1980]

Gent is gorgeous!

But aside from that he looks like a much more mature bird (fully feathered out, massive comb and wattles, and richer overall color) than the one in the hatchery photos (who looks to me like a cockerel rather than a full grown roo), can you point out the differences that make Gent a "better bird". I'm totally not trying to give anyone a hard time, I really would like to know the subtle differences and how they make him better.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Prior to the late 1800s, birds were kept for fighting. Presidents, czars, and kings the world over fought cocks. They ate the eggs and birds but the birds purpose was their fighting ability.
Lots of breeds were developed for specific climates. I bet Cochins weren't developed in your climate.
So other than fighting ability, meat quality, egg production, adaptability to a specific climate, temperament, docility or ability to evade predators - I can probably think of 10 other reasons a bird was originally developed.

 

[RhodeRunner]

Fancy fowl and showing go together. But, to say they are one in the same would be incorrect. The American Poultry Association recognizes many breeds, the fancy and utility alike, and everything in between. The birds you mention (Polish, Sebright) where not breed for utility. You can buy them at a hatchery, and they still are ornamental. There are quality fowl breed for utility...you just have to look for them.

There are many breeders dedicated to preserving and raising heritage fowl. My fowl are Non-Hatchery Stock, and far from useless. My Partridge Chanteclers are beautiful, they start laying at five to six months, grow quickly and make excellent meat fowl, have good temperaments, are very healthy, and lay four to five eggs a week throughout the year. I've never had hatchery fowl that could begin to compare with them.

Non-Hatchery Stock have their differences from hatchery fowl. And showing has hurt the utility factor of many breeds. But, breeders (some of which show, and some of which do not) have kept these breeds alive. And these breeds that mature slower, and produce less...often live longer, produce more over a span of time, self-reproduce, and have more disease resistance. If you see them, you will see a true chicken.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

The hatchery Buff Orpington was actually the same age as Gent in the photos. So that makes a great comparison.

 

[sjshaw1980]

The hatchery Buff Orpington was actually the same age as Gent in the photos. So that makes a great comparison.

Ahh I see, so a more rounded saddle, better feathering and color, bigger body size, etc, distinguish Gent from the run of the mill hatchery orps....assuming his hens are as pretty as he is, how well do they lay?

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

We have pullets that hatched at a friend's in South Carolina that started laying at 6 months. They are not a sexlink nor a Leghorn, so egg production is not extreme. We are satisfied with 150 to 200 eggs a year... if the do not go broody! The hens are about 2 pounds under the males in size.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Here is a photo that someone took at an actual poultry show. Its of two Buff Orpington cockerels. The smaller is from a hatchery. the other is bred to the American Standard of Perfection. This is the best comparison I have seen of the differences between hatchery and breeder stock.

​

 

[sjshaw1980]

Interesting! Thanks for the photo!