I understand; I guess it truly depends on what your goal is. If it's to preserve a beautiful, heritage-type breed or to show (which you've already stated you have no interest in), then hatchery quality will not help you. If you're just wanting a large bird that will lay nicely and be a good table bird as well, then hatchery quality will be just fine. But, I'm hearing mixed messages when you state you have a heritage line of blacks and are interested in "semi" show quality. There's nothing wrong with hatchery birds, they're just not heritage bred, nor are they exhibition quality. They do serve a purpose, though.
Tell us what your goals are, and maybe we can come up with more suggestions on how to proceed. Also, just to add, I would certainly not be afraid to buy some hatching eggs; of course, as you say, you'll never get as good a hatch as you would from eggs right off a farm and not shipped, but they are SO worth it.
Which reminds me...I've held back a nice looking young male from my hatch of Black Giants from Cliff Calhoun of Ohio; this male is a bit of a conundrum for me. He's growing out differently from what I am used to seeing in my line, but I am very much liking what I am seeing. I'll get some pics soon & get them posted here. I think he may just end up being quite a boy!
Tell us what your goals are, and maybe we can come up with more suggestions on how to proceed. Also, just to add, I would certainly not be afraid to buy some hatching eggs; of course, as you say, you'll never get as good a hatch as you would from eggs right off a farm and not shipped, but they are SO worth it.
Which reminds me...I've held back a nice looking young male from my hatch of Black Giants from Cliff Calhoun of Ohio; this male is a bit of a conundrum for me. He's growing out differently from what I am used to seeing in my line, but I am very much liking what I am seeing. I'll get some pics soon & get them posted here. I think he may just end up being quite a boy!
She's just finishing her molt, so i'm hoping she starts laying again soon... I've been so busy the past 4 weeks I haven't had much chance to spend with my birds so i'm homing I can get this girl more friendly otherwise she's going to end up in the freezer... she spooks my usually calm birds with her frantic brain. This is the first time in the few months that I've owned her, that i've seen her lay down while I was within 8 feet of her sitting on a bucket... and I sat there for half an hour before she would lay down. Sigh.. such a beautiful bird, too..
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