Just curious: Why drawings in McMurray hatchery catalog?

[Gingerbeer]

So this isn't the most relevant question, but does anyone know, or have a guess, why the adult chickens are illustrated with drawings in the Murray McMurray hatchery catalog? Chicks are photographed, and ducks, geese, quail, pheasants, and every other fowl is photographed. So what's with the drawings for only mature chickens?

 

[KinderKorner]

Because their birds aren't up the standard, and the drawings will amaze you more than pictures would.

No seriously. I'm not sure. Thats probably true though.

Not meaning to offend anyone. I have bought birds from them several times, happily.

Just saying...

 

[chickenannie]

I know, I've always wondered why they use drawings. It's harder to tell what the birds actually look like, when it's a stylized drawing.

 

[TXmom]

Ideal has drawings too and I don't think that's helpful at all. The first time I saw their silly drawing of a Buff Orp, I decided I did NOT like that bird. Now, I have 3 of them and I love them.

That drawing does not do them justice.

 

[crazy_4_chickens]

Quote:
ya it does seem harder. My nephew looked at the one picture and my birds and said sincerly, " I think you got ripped off Uncle, The one here seems ALIVE!!!" it took a LONG time to convince him I had bought REAL chickens not painting!!! lol

 

[Illia]

Quote:

Soo sadly true. I'm not sure either, I think it is because they have several rare breeds they'd rather show a decent example of, considering some of their birds look NOTHING like what is shown.

 

[WhiteWingedDove]

No idea, but I know a majority of those photos have a signature in the corner. They are less likely to be stolen and used by someone else trying to rip off others.

 

[Gingerbeer]

good answers, thanks! Thank goodness for BYC-- I have plenty of resources to find out what buff orps and blue silkies and sumatras and welsummers REALLY look like.

 

[rancher hicks]

It's probably cheaper on the ink cost. Plus we all can find pic's of real chickens on the web. You can't expect show chickens from them anyhow.
Though I am curious why would anyone repeat buy from a hatchery? Unless you want to be sure of pullets.

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Quote:
Yeah, it's sad, but it's basically true. Hatcheries TEND to breed for quantity, not quality. Hope I'm not offending everyone, and it isn't always this way with hatcheries, but most hatcheries won't spend as much money if they show off their birds that don't look anything like how they're supposed to (as the standard says, or close to it).

What I really don't like is when hatcheries put down pictures of real chickens, that aren't theirs. People think, 'Those birds look awesome, put me down for some of them!' How misleading! Sadly it's usually one or the other; birds that are not theirs (most likely breeders' birds or shown fowl) or drawings.