Is $150 a hen fair for show Brahmas?

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Are they show quality?

I don't know much about showing. I can tell you I would feel better ordering from a hatchery who knows what to do in breeding than taking the word of someone you don't know. Look at other options. Go to the website and read about them. There is a customer service rep who will chat with you live during business hours or just give them a call them. I have talked to a few reps on the phone who show chickens. I'm just a newbie but have made my purchases based on unique and beautiful birds.

 

[YardMoa]

I don't know much about showing. I can tell you I would feel better ordering from a hatchery who knows what to do in breeding than taking the word of someone you don't know. Look at other options. Go to the website and read about them. There is a customer service rep who will chat with you live during business hours or just give them a call them. I have talked to a few reps on the phone who show chickens. I'm just a newbie but have made my purchases based on unique and beautiful birds.

If you're looking for birds to show or breed for showing, you will not find anything close to quality at a hatchery. Even the breed pictures on sites like Ideal show birds that barely look like they're supposed to.

 

[The duck father_]

It looks a bit much to me, like they're older, but I've seen a lot of Brahmas. They have eyes like

If you're looking for birds to show or breed for showing, you will not find anything close to quality at a hatchery. Even the breed pictures on sites like Ideal show birds that barely look like they're supposed to.

Yeah, It's nice to know there's an ethical hatchery but honestly I think it's better for me to get them from good ethical breeders so I know the showing quality and know that they aren't in anyway inbred.

 

[HaikuHeritageFarm]

Yeah, It's nice to know there's an ethical hatchery but honestly I think it's better for me to get them from good ethical breeders so I know the showing quality and know that they aren't in anyway inbred.

Well bred birds are technically inbred to various degrees by default, and they should be for consistency. Crossing lines ruins them, you have to start over to develop consistent type and traits and eliminate problems and set desirable qualities, could be years after a single cross to another line of the same breed stabilize the original line again.

If you're looking for show birds and a good breeding line, buy from a good breeder that shows birds. If you want a backyard flock of layers, yeah... hatchery stock is fine. Just depends on what your goals are and purpose is. If you want a backyard laying flock i probably wouldn't spring for a $150 hen, and that may be what most people have in mind when they tell you it's too much.

 

[The duck father_]

Well bred birds are technically inbred to various degrees by default, and they should be for consistency. Crossing lines ruins them, you have to start over to develop consistent type and traits and eliminate problems and set desirable qualities, could be years after a single cross to another line of the same breed stabilize the original line again.

If you're looking for show birds and a good breeding line, buy from a good breeder that shows birds. If you want a backyard flock of layers, yeah... hatchery stock is fine. Just depends on what your goals are and purpose is. If you want a backyard laying flock i probably wouldn't spring for a $150 hen, and that may be what most people have in mind when they tell you it's too much.

Yeah I know technically they are but I was meaning like recent inbreeding. I already have a show quality hen and rooster from a breeder but unfortunately the breeder doesn't breed anymore so I'm having to find another breeder.

 

[TomNY]

Yeah I know technically they are but I was meaning like recent inbreeding. I already have a show quality hen and rooster from a breeder but unfortunately the breeder doesn't breed anymore so I'm having to find another breeder.

I would talk to the first breeder. He may recommend someone he sold stock to.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Yeah, It's nice to know there's an ethical hatchery but honestly I think it's better for me to get them from good ethical breeders so I know the showing quality and know that they aren't in anyway inbred.

If you're looking for birds to show or breed for showing, you will not find anything close to quality at a hatchery. Even the breed pictures on sites like Ideal show birds that barely look like they're supposed to.

It looks a bit much to me, like they're older, but I've seen a lot of Brahmas. They have eyes like that.

My Dark Brahmas have stunning eyes. STUNNING. Nothing like the ones posted here. Honestly, they have a Bald Eagle face look to them. They look like the photos on MPC sight. All my pullets look "as shown" in photos other than my Golden Coocoo's which are pictures on my profile. They show more coloring in their neck feathers.

 

[LaFleche]

I would rather ask him for hatching eggs in March.

 

[aart]

I don't know when the birds he wants to give me are ready but here are his stock. He says he won't have them until after February. I have some of his lines mixed with another line in my pair but the rooster didn't turn out good.

Did you do any research on the awards shown here...or are you just going by the pics they sent you?

 

[YardMoa]

My Dark Brahmas have stunning eyes. STUNNING. Nothing like the ones posted here. Honestly, they have a Bald Eagle face look to them. They look like the photos on MPC sight. All my pullets look "as shown" in photos other than my Golden Coocoo's which are pictures on my profile. They show more coloring in their neck feathers.

MPC's Brahmas are not show quality. They can be a great choice for people not looking to show. They at least look like their breed, unlike Ideal's "Blue Andalusians".

Anyone looking to breed for show will be sorely disappointed if they buy from a hatchery for that purpose.