How imporant is breeding?

[GoDawgs]

I found an ad on Craigslist for breeds of hens that interest me. It looks like it's just someone who raises chickens at her house. I'm interested because she has young Marans and Ameraucana that just started laying.

If I know nothing about this person, is it better to go with a reputable hatchery with younger chicken (I'd love to have eggs now) and breeds that I'm not as interested in?

 

[GoDawgs]

I suppose I should add that I want these hens for eggs and not to show or breed. As long as they lay eggs at a rate that is comparable with other hens of the same breed, and as long as they aren't mean, I'll be happy

 

[geebs]

Pinnacle... the breeding is pinnacle... If you are going to get marans... Do your homework or walk away... It is that simple... THey are HARD... Egg color keeping is difficult by any standard... a CL find may be a good one... ask alot of questions and pop over to the marans thread and have a little read (warning, you may go blind). Feel free to drop that question in the lap of the folks on that thread... They can get you to the stock that will be good... and educate you so you are well armed with good questions.

 

[SadieSue]

I prefer to get my chickens from local breeders as I have heard they are superior to hatchery stock birds. I think more of the local breeders I know are doing more to better the breed. I'm sure others will weigh in with more information.

 

[GoDawgs]

Quote:
Good advice. I'll check out the Marans thread. Thanks.

 

[Oregon Blues]

There is a lot of difference between buying young hens just starting to lay and buying day old chicks. If you buy the hens, you don't have to wait months before you start getting eggs, you won't buy the feed necessary to raise them up to laying age, and you don't have to worry about the loses of young chicks, because a few of them are going to die before they grow up.

 

[speckledhen]

If you want true Ameraucanas, you may want to question her a bit about those since most folks do have Easter Eggers and not Ameraucanas, though they don't know that. You may also want to ask her about any respiratory illness she may have had. If she says the birds have had something she treated, then run the other way. That to me is more important than the breeds, the health of the birds.

 

[GoDawgs]

Quote:
You are near me. Do you have any POL pullets or young hens you would consider selling? I'm open to different breeds, but one or two pretty colored eggs are a plus

I'm going to PM you the name of this person to see if you have ever heard of her.

I actually don't mind an Easter Egger as long as the eggs are blue/green.

 

[hinkjc]

If all you're looking for is pet hens that lay pretty eggs and lay well, breeding to the standard of perfection may not be as important to you. It really is a matter of personal preference. If you don't intend to show or sell from your stock, as long as the birds are healthy and produce well, I'd say it doesn't matter. IMO health would be the most important factor in your search, based on your first post.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
You are near me. Do you have any POL pullets or young hens you would consider selling? I'm open to different breeds, but one or two pretty colored eggs are a plus

I'm going to PM you the name of this person to see if you have ever heard of her.

I actually don't mind an Easter Egger as long as the eggs are blue/green.

I answered your PM. I don't currently have any POL pullets for sale, sorry. May have in a few months, though.