HQ/SQ/PQ WHats up with it?

[MonkeyZero]

Hi
I know what SQ(show quality), HQ(hatchery quality), and PQ(pet quality), is often debated.
I know what SQ is, but whats the diff about SQ and PQ?
Also, why is HQ/PQ chickens looked down upon?

Thanks!

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
PQ and HQ birds often arn't close enough to the standard to win during show and they have disqualifications or faults.

 

[MonkeyZero]

So, does this mean that HQ and PQ are looked down upon due to flaws?

 

[Hoosiermomma]

I wouldn't say looked down upon. It just depends on what your intentions are for the birds you have. I have lot of pq and hq birds and I just love them. Now we will never plan on showing any of them b/c they aren't what the standard should be. We do have our sq birds and we bought them as sq with the intention of showing. So it just depends on what you are looking for.

 

[Judy]

Quote:
Yes, by those who are only interested in SQ. No, by those who are interested in eggs, pets, meat, etc. It's about what your goal or purpose is. "Flaws" are variations from the established show quality norm, or the breed standard, and not necessarily flaws in the bird in relation to eggs or meat or personality. Actually, SQ birds are often not as good layers as HQ are. On the other hand, it is possible that some HQ birds have been bred to the point that they are more likely to develop internal laying, or other laying system problems. Just depends what your purpose is.

 

[walkswithdog]

It's about your goals. If you want to show starting with breeder or show or heritage quality birds makes sense.

If you're looking for laying flock, pets, then hatchery quality and pet quality birds work fine.

Your HQ could have been defined either heritage or hatchery.

Hatchery is much much further from the standard than Heritage quality is.

Heritage implies a breeder, working toward the standard with persistence yet maintaining an eye to natural skills, like good laying, good foraging, and when possible, naturally brooding birds.

Hatchery is the bird you get from a hatchery whose goals are egg production and a bird that "resembles" not meets, the standard for the breed. Hatcheries are known to add in other breeds without adding that information and they also breed for EGG production - and so many breeds that come from hatcheries have lost the instinct to brood, brooding affects egg production.

I have had hatchery birds go broody but it is less common.

I recently bought hatchery, breeder - a hobby breeder working up from hatchery stock, and heritage bred birds in Delawares. The differences were obvious. I kept very few of the hatchery birds, their type was not correct, not in size, width, leg color or mature color of the birds. Those birds that came from people already working on the breed, both the breeder's birds and the heritage birds were significantly closer to the standard and more correct in type and color.

If I wanted even better color and type I could buy in some show stock. But I am careful with show stock in any breed. Often they have lost fertility, or rate of lay, trade offs you have to deal with.

Here I'm going to manage heritage quality stock, avoiding the hatcheries, and only adding in enough show stock to meet the Standard, but focus on the purposes of the birds, to forage, lay, brood and/or provide meat.

I'll buy eggs from breeders and show people when I want new blood and be content.