How do they get so big?

[clayburnley]

I went to a poultry show today in Jefferson Ga. Saw a Langshan rooster and hen that were the greatest looking chickens I've ever seen. OMG, how do they get so big?

 

[Judy]

most likely they are breeder quality birds instead of hatchery quality

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Yep.

Take for example, Brahmas should be HUGE birds too, but hatchery quality ones, in almost every case, max at 6 lbs. A normal show quality one should weigh 9 lbs for a hen.

Even normal breeds like Barred Rocks - your average BR hen is about 5 lbs and pretty thin. A true show quality one is HUGE and fluffy.

 

[Chiko]

That is true a friend experimented last year she bought a batch of chicks from a breeder and ordered the same kinds and amounts of chicks from cackle hatchery and the breeder chicks grew up healthier and layed first 3 of the hatchery chicks died and the breeder chicks all survived