Hatchery quality vs. Breeder quality

[aoxa]

Quote:
Hmmm? ..... breeds and genetics are integral to egg laying and behavior. Professor Dryden, who was generally considered the foremost poultry breeder in the world at the time of his death in the 1930s, spent his entire career breeding birds for egg laying and temperament. Many of the buildings on the campus of Oregon State University were paid for with the proceeds from the sale of breeding stock from Dryden lines. Things have not changed much in the world of agriculture as far as the importance of genetics in utility birds.

Perhaps we need to have a separate discussion area for Breeds, Genetics, and Utility? Just a thought.

Egg laying was not the discussion topic here. It started with how hatchery quality and breeder quality differs in looks. Not egg laying

You guys need to take your debate to the PMs before the mods shut this down. Most people would love to know the actual differences without having to sift though all the debate garbage.

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
Hatchery type Rhode Island Red (not my birds)
Rooster,

Hen,

Exhibition Red, (out of condition and going into molt)
Young Rooster (single comb)

Rooster (rose comb)

Hen,

Chris

 

[kfacres]

Quote:
In case you didn't know... wiki is not a reliable source.. any 2 year old can post on it.

 

[Oregon Blues]

If a $4 chicken does everything that a person wants, then there is no reason to buy more expensive birds. If a person plans to interbreed a flock that contains 4-5 different breeds, then there is no reason to purchase more expensive birds.

On the other hand, if those $4 birds can not do everything a person wants, then it is time to move up the ladder and spend the money for better quality stock.

My quality birds make my eyes happy. The $4 birds don't do that. To my eyes, the hatchery birds are less attractive. I like going to the shows and socializing. I'd be embarrassed to show up there with a $4 bird. I really like getting one of those big purple ribbons. That $4 bird can't do that for me. I like knowing what will hatch out and the $4 bird is very unlikely to do that for me.

It all depends upon what you want from your flock. Figure out at what level the birds will meet your expectations and purchase at that level.

I'm not buying this business of not buying better birds only because they cost more. Poultry is dirt cheap compared to any other hobby. A show dog costs thousands, a set of golf clubs is a bit more than the price of a couple of top quality chickens. How much does it cost to go to the store and buy all the stuff for scrapbooking? Video games? Gardening plants and seeds and sprays and fencing? A quality trio will provide you with more eggs to hatch than you could possible use in a year. Hatch them all and you could end up with a flock of 300 birds for your initial investment. Quality birds are not expensive.

However, if that $4 bird does what you need, then buy the $4 bird. Just don't pass up the quality bird that is more in line with what you need, just because your think it is "Too expensive"

 

[galanie]

Not to beat the horse again, but this thread is about the difference, and pictures, of hatchery chickens VS Show Quality or Breeder birds. I'm joining the bandwagon here in urging those who think there's nothing great about SQ chickens to start a thread on the subject and please let this one be instructional on the visual difference.

 

[eggdd]

more pics, more pics, more pics!

i think the visual differences are striking. i also think it'd be cool to take pics of a specific breed from the most commonly used hatcheries (RIR per chris above - - as an example) and then compare them to a breeder (again, chris above, as an example). i wonder if all hatcheries produce physically similar birds.

btw, the silver laced bird a few posts ago, i think, is pretty. i like the contrast of the colors.

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
I am so with you!!!

 

[aoxa]

Quote:
Hatchery type Rhode Island Red (not my birds)
Rooster,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_rhoderedmale.jpg

Hen,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_rhodeislandred.jpg


Exhibition Red, (out of condition and going into molt)
Young Rooster (single comb)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0906.jpg

Rooster (rose comb)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_copper-b-iii.jpg

Hen,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_red_hen_-_iii.jpg

Chris

Chris, could you give me insight on my RIR hen I got from a show breeder? Could she be shown? is she worth breeding? Should I get another couple pullets from the same guy and a cock?

 

[Gresh]

Quote:
Hatchery type Rhode Island Red (not my birds)
Rooster,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_rhoderedmale.jpg

Hen,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_rhodeislandred.jpg


Exhibition Red, (out of condition and going into molt)
Young Rooster (single comb)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_dsc_0906.jpg

Rooster (rose comb)
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_copper-b-iii.jpg

Hen,
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/33115_red_hen_-_iii.jpg

Chris

Your RIRs are just beautiful! There's definitely a big difference between those hatchery birds and the real-deal.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I don't have any hatchery welsummers, but here's my breeder rooster.