Hatchery/farm store vs breeder

[pennyJo1960]

Perfectly said Kiki having cockerel I can hatch chicks in dogs I only bred to build a better dog that was my world. Chickens I am only novice I can hatch chicks backyard style

 

[cmom]

I believe it is safest for a newbie chicken owner to buy directly from a major hatchery.
Less chance of buying diseased birds from a fake wanna be breeder.

I totally agree. A good breeder will invest a lot, selection of best breeders, and in most cases special feeds, etc.. They’ll know all the pros and cons for the lines they breed. They don’t breed to just create: they breed to create potential show quality and to preserve their lines, and they mostly do it for the love of enhancing the breed traits rather than profit.

 

[Xerocles]

WOW! That video was an eye-opener. I know Easter Eggers are mutts with no SOP. But (uhoh I know I'll ruffle some feathers here especially since the name of the hatchery was shown) those LOOKED like mutts. My EEs came from a farm store (local, not TSC). I Don't know who their hatchery is but in spite of the fact that I said one of my birds was homely.....the homely one is a beauty queen compared to those. Shocked. Thank you for the video. Third pic looks like a clone of her. So only one pic
Last picture is the one I say is homely.

 

[cmom]

I do not mix lines. All of my lines are pure (heritage).

 

[cmom]

Next time you go into the store where you bought your chicks, ask them what hatchery they use. Sometimes they will have a hatchery poster showing the different breeds they sell.

 

[cmom]

All of my birds originally came from reputable breeders. I did a lot of research prior.

 

[21hens-incharge]

From my perspective it depends on what a person's goals are for their flock.

If a person is wanting to show or breed showable birds it is probably best to find a reputable breeder who breeds for SOP.

If a person wants fun birds as pets hatchery stock has worked well for me and I am sure many more.

I currently have hatchery black Australorp that are nice birds (certainly not show quality) that keep taking turns being broody.
I have hatchery cochins both bantam and giant and yes broody.

I enjoy my birds even though they are not show quality.

 

[cmom]

Also I should mention there is a huge difference in people who call themselves breeders.

There are many real chicken breeders out there but there are also many people who claim to be breeders that have no clue what they're doing.
It takes a lot of research to figure out who's who.

I would like to add, sometimes people get birds from other people that tell them they are from a particular line but they know nothing about the line except to call their birds by certain names. My Single comb Rhode Island Reds are actually from the Reese line. Some people also call it Mohawk but don't know the history, just that the person they got the birds from said they were.

 

[chrissynemetz]

I kinda think the one you're calling homely is cool looking

 

[SueT]

My birds are all from a hatchery. Yet BYC printed my photo of 3 of them in their calendar so I'd argue with the idea that hatchery birds are not attractive. If I sell chicks from them, tho, I do not call myself a breeder, I'd tell people they are hatchery stock. But I wonder if others would do the same. I would expect a good breeder to be showing their birds and have winning lines.