Looking for beautiful Breeds

[centrarchid]

I mean, if you breed something with historical significance to the SOP there is the bonus of making a difference.
Of course, it is a money hole.
(I saw this beautiful Asil at a show. The game breeder who bred it let me hold him and feel him. He feels like a brick.)
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I have some. They make good broodies, but not big egg producers and they cause management issue with males and sometimes even females. They also have trouble with cold.

 

[Amer]

I have some. They make good broodies, but not big egg producers and they cause management issue with males and sometimes even females. They also have trouble with cold.

Interesting. I had maybe seen a couple in my life before that and I hand never seen one that good before.

 

[ShrekDawg]

You are a major league outlier based on how long you have been on this site alone. 12 years. The overwhelming majority that started on this site at same time as you and no longer posting also no longer have chickens. That is pattern I see locally and areas I am otherwise familiar with.

I am advocate of preserve genetic variation, which will require more backyard / barnyard folks having a role in breeding and being a source of birds for other people, especially their neighbors.

Well, I didn’t get them then, only got my first birds 5 years ago this month, but I did research for years beforehand. I’m sure there are some that get birds and then find it’s not for them but I don’t think that is the majority. I am sure there’s probably a lot right now with COVID and everything but even then I think most responsible people would rehome the birds not just dispose of them. I also think most of the people on this site are probably more responsible or invested than the average owner but idk.

I totally understand that and it would be nice, for sure, but not everybody can breed or even have roosters where they live and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to get birds for their looks or from a hatchery or whatever. I mean, ideally, people would get from a breeder or breed themselves but some people either don’t want to or can’t afford it or whatever.

I actually got roosters and hatched from my own flock for the first time this year and am on the second generation now but I don’t think I’ll be hatching or adding more but I guess we’ll see hah

But I also don’t think it’s necessarily fair or relevant to just assume OP will dispose of the birds because she’s getting them for looks or because a lot of other people do. What one person or even a few people do doesn’t represent everybody.

I added more layers last year and this year added birds mostly for their looks for the first time. I liked the breeds and wanted them so I got them. Never done that. Usually consider other factors but

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I guess I'm just rather confused why it's assumed I'll dispose of my chickens because I want pretty ones.

 

[ShrekDawg]

I guess I'm just rather confused why it's assumed I'll dispose of my chickens because I want pretty ones.

Yeah I don’t get it either. It makes zero sense.

 

[centrarchid]

Think long and hard on this. Most people that get into chickens do not stay with it. This site I think would be ideal for making an assessment of that hypothesis. To give an example with what goes on in my immediate vicinity. There has been over a dozen startups over the last 10 years. Only two have kept chickens continuously and only one has done so without purchasing hatchery stock. Only three currently have chickens and two of those started up in the last two years. The others either lost chickens to predation, disease or selling them off when interest lost in keeping the chickens. To my knowledge, none of the birds sold off persisted for more than a couple more years or left offspring to perpetuate their line. The secondary owners did value the purchased birds as much, only as second rate egg producers.

If you are regularly buying new chicks, then the chickens are effectively a consumable product like food or toilet paper.

The COVID issue clearly promoted an increase in chickens. We shall see how long the new chicken keepers stay in the game. Locally, there does appear to be an increase in demand for feed and other supplies used for keeping chickens. I home the interest is sustained.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Think long and hard on this. Most people that get into chickens do not stay with it. This site I think would be ideal for making an assessment of that hypothesis. To give an example with what goes on in my immediate vicinity. There has been over a dozen startups over the last 10 years. Only two have kept chickens continuously and only one has done so without purchasing hatchery stock. Only three currently have chickens and two of those started up in the last two years. The others either lost chickens to predation, disease or selling them off when interest lost in keeping the chickens. To my knowledge, none of the birds sold off persisted for more than a couple more years or left offspring to perpetuate their line. The secondary owners did value the purchased birds as much, only as second rate egg producers.

If you are regularly buying new chicks, then the chickens are effectively a consumable product like food or toilet paper.

The COVID issue clearly promoted an increase in chickens. We shall see how long the new chicken keepers stay in the game. Locally, there does appear to be an increase in demand for feed and other supplies used for keeping chickens. I home the interest is sustained.

Yeah, but I've already mentioned I've had birds for over 10 years now. This isn't my first flock, but odds are I will not be able to bring most, if any of my birds with me over state lines when I move. I would simply like to have beautiful birds that I enjoy looking at.

 

[centrarchid]

Yeah, but I've already mentioned I've had birds for over 10 years now. This isn't my first flock, but odds are I will not be able to bring most, if any of my birds with me over state lines when I move. I would simply like to have beautiful birds that I enjoy looking at.

I am not talking explicitly about you. You may very well prove to be one that stays in the game for years if not decades and gets others to follow in your footsteps. I hope you do and doing so also promotes the continuation of chickens that will benefit people far into the future. Ultimately, our connections to out birds needs to be based on more than just looks or the culinary value they provide. We need to see they help with maintaining our quality of life.

Researching for those with attributes making them suitable for your area is a very good start.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I don't need these ones for culinary reasons. I just want nice looking birds for this go around. Though I'm rather confused what all you mean by maintaining our quality of life. But maybe that's all just too complicated for me.

On another hand, I checked out the mosaic post made a few pages ago now. Their birds do look nice, so I'll mark them down on my list so I remember to look them up when I'm ordering eggs and chicks.

 

[Amer]

I don't need these ones for culinary reasons. I just want nice looking birds for this go around. Though I'm rather confused what all you mean by maintaining our quality of life. But maybe that's all just too complicated for me.

On another hand, I checked out the mosaic post made a few pages ago now. Their birds do look nice, so I'll mark them down on my list so I remember to look them up when I'm ordering eggs and chicks.

Noooo Centrachid is talking about things above him! Don’t get those!