How to find a (good) breeder?

[3riverschick]

Hi all!
I am new to chickens, so I bought a good book (A Chicken in Every Yard) and did what they told me to do. I bought my chicks from a hatchery (Meyer). They are lovely, if a bit ferocious at times (they are eight and nine weeks old now), but some look different from how I think they should look and now, reading about how hatchery stock is not reliably true to breed I wonder if that was a mistake. When we add to our flock in the future I would like to buy from a breeder - but how do you find them? I have googled, but not with much luck. Thanks!

Hi Stephine,
What breds of poultry do you want? Perhaps I can help you find some near you. Also go over to the Heritage Large Fowl Phase II thread. One of its main purposes is to help folk find high quality breeder birds in Standardbred flocks and make conections for them with the breeders. Tis is a good time of year to seek breeder bred birds as they are working to decide which to keep. Some real nice started birds out there, rised by breeders and which will be looking for home as the breeders shortly sart to downsize their flock for overwintering. The only successful flock I ever had was started with started birds ( 8 weeks and older0. I highly reccoemend it. Fr the added expense of started birds, you proabaly couldn't raise them yourself for much less except for any shipping ost. Even there it is worth it.
Best,
Karen
( ps. Your Light ad Buff Brahmas has too much black on them because they are based on the eb ( Brown) allele and the breeder has not taken care to carefully balance the hues in the underfluff so the top color of the feathers will be the desired white or buff color. This proper color balancing of the underfluff on eb based breeds is something that breeders take very seriously. That's why at shows you seethe Buff and Light Brahmas with prbper white ( or Buff) bodies and properly placed black markings. )

 

[3riverschick]

Hi,
Sorry about the speling errors in the above post. Winodws10 is messign with my ability to use the spellcheck.
Best,
Karen