Looking for show-quality chickens in CO

[AltonaAcres]

My criteria:
must be relatively hardy, (they will live outside, free-range with my laying flock)
Can be bantam or standard
Not silkies
3 or more birds must be available so I can start a breeding flock
less than $50 per bird
Must be laying currently so I can start hatching eggs soon
Show-quality
non-aggressive
Thanks!!

 

[sourland]

Try posting this request in your state thread - good luck in getting the birds that you seek.

 

[pozees2]

My criteria:
must be relatively hardy, (they will live outside, free-range with my laying flock)
Can be bantam or standard
Not silkies
3 or more birds must be available so I can start a breeding flock
less than $50 per bird
Must be laying currently so I can start hatching eggs soon
Show-quality
non-aggressive
Thanks!!

When you say live outside is it safe to assume they will have predator protection and a coop to sleep in? I would never tell someone else how to keep their own birds, and many a show quality flock free ranges once the flock has reached sufficient size to absorb losses, but 1 - please consider a 30-day quarantine of new birds before combining with your laying flock, and 2 - if you only have a trio or quad to start with and you want to build a flock of show quality birds, you might have better success if you limit free ranging to times you are there to intervene if a predator arrives; also, there can be integration issues which may lead to losses, either from your laying flock or from the newly acquired group. I'm not saying it can't be done, it certainly can, and has been, just thought I'd offer input that might be helpful when you find birds you want. As well, it is common for breeders to cut back to only the birds they want to winter over in October/November, so this time of year, unless someone has decided they kept too many or has some other reason to part with birds, it can be difficult to find adult trios or quads of show quality birds for sale right when they are beginning to lay better with lengthening days. Best of luck to you.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

You'll find good stock but caution you to be wary of "show quality". The term is over used. one in a thousand birds from good stock I'd put that voucher on. Furthermore a line from show quality birds does not mean the birds you're purchasing are that high of quality. Basically it's an overused term that often doesn't represent stock sold.

Look the birds over carefully before you buy. Do your homework on the SOP of breed. Get many photos before even seeing the birds in person. $150 for a good trio is about right, then you've got to drive there or if that good fork over a lot to ship adult birds. It's an investment for sure. Be certain of what you are getting. Good birds can begotten for less, rare and overpriced birds can be gotten for far more. I suggest you post any photos you get to a thread here for aid in critiquing them.

Good Luck on your search. It can take a long time finding the right birds.

 

[Fairview01]

You'll find good stock but caution you to be wary of "show quality". The term is over used. one in a thousand birds from good stock I'd put that voucher on. Furthermore a line from show quality birds does not mean the birds you're purchasing are that high of quality. Basically it's an overused term that often doesn't represent stock sold.

Look the birds over carefully before you buy. Do your homework on the SOP of breed. Get many photos before even seeing the birds in person. $150 for a good trio is about right, then you've got to drive there or if that good fork over a lot to ship adult birds. It's an investment for sure. Be certain of what you are getting. Good birds can begotten for less, rare and overpriced birds can be gotten for far more. I suggest you post any photos you get to a thread here for aid in critiquing them.

Good Luck on your search. It can take a long time finding the right birds.

Agree with everything above except the price. I sell my trios for $300. Last year i hatched 400 eggs and culled 350 before eight weeks. Of the remaining 50, 36 went to camp Kenmore. Only 14 survived the last cut. I sold 2 trios, culled the remaining cockerel and kept the pullets for my breeding program.

You don't get this sort of quality for $50. Anything less than $100/bird and ill throw them in the soup pot.

Most reputable breeders share a similiar attitude.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Point taken.