Hi I've been out of the chicken game for many moons.

[ChickNCoop4Soul]

I'm beginning to buy a few breeds and my daughter is going to start showing. We are also looking to start a breeding program and selling fertile eggs.

I'm hoping someone can give me some insight so I'm not headed in the wrong direction.

At the moment I have golden nuggets, rir, sussex, sexlinks, cornish rocks, blue laced red wyandottes and white leghorns.

My plan is to use a few of these breeds for regular daily sales and other's to show as well as sell fertile eggs. I will also be purchasing a few other breeds like Phoenix, cochin, silkies, old english game birds and a few other's.

I'd love any advice anyone is willing to offer. I've been through a lot of trial and error before but I am far from knowing everything and if other's knowledge can prevent it them I'd be eternally greatful.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Pork Pie]

Hi and welcome to BYC - great that you have joined us.

I have no experience in breeding for show etc, but certainly for the breeds you wish to show, it may be an idea to limit the number of breeds to begin with, and then expand or move on to other breeds in the future.

I'm sure other members will the appropriate experience will chip in at some time or other.

Best wishes
CT

 

[redsoxs]

Greetings from Kansas and ! Great to have you in our community! I likewise have no experience in showing birds. But the folks in the forum might https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/16188/exhibition-genetics-breeding-to-the-standard-of-perfection
Best of luck and welcome back to chickens!

 

[N F C]

Thanks for joining us and good luck with all your plans!

 

[ChickNCoop4Soul]

Thanks for the warm welcome and the link.

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[CuzChickens]

Hello, and welcome to Backyard chickens! Glad you joined us, and I hope you make yourself at home here!

 

[drumstick diva]

If you plan to breed for show & sale, you need to keep various breeds separately - so no mixed breeding occurs.

 

[ChickNCoop4Soul]

Thanks for the welcome everyone. And yes drumstick diva, I built all of my pens before I bought my chickens so I could be prepared. I have my brood pens and boxes built as well as several chicken coops.

 

[QueenMisha]

Welcome to BYC! It's great to have you.

How serious are you about showing and breeding? Are you looking to do it "just for fun", or will this be a serious project for you and your daughter? (Not that a serious project can't be fun as well... but there IS a difference)

Definitely limit the breeds to the two or even three you are most interested in. Even one project can be difficult for a beginner, depending again on how serious you are.

Be careful where you get your stock. If you take time and be patient and purchase good stock the first time around, you may well be able to raise and breed your own show winners within a few years. If you start with low quality stock you could work your butt off for ten years and still be placing last. That means you skip the hatcheries entirely and find private breeders who breed to the Standard of Perfection. You want quality, not quantity. If you really intend on showing and breeding quality stock, you need to purchase yourself a copy of the Standard of Perfection.