Maybe dumb question but when someone says “hatchery quality” is that a bad thing?

[AngieDawn]

I just don’t know.

 

[Folly's place]

It's not really about 'bad' or 'good' exactly.
Most hatcheries are trying to sell chicks, so good egg production is important to them. Breeding 'to the standard' isn't so important, and good egg production can be better is breeding lines that aren't all that close to 'show quality', and rooster temperament may not be factored in either.
Nearly nobody selects for longevity! Most breeder birds, hatchery or otherwise, are one year of age, and not much older. So, many birds do die young, as by three or four years of age, because long life isn't considered in breeding stock.
People who want birds that might win at shows may select for looks above all else, so egg production is low on their selection list. Big pretty birds who hardly lay any eggs can result.
Start somewhere! Disease risk is lower with hatchery birds, rather than backyard breeder's birds. I still get hatchery stock, won't ever enter my birds in a poultry show, but want them to resemble their breed.
Take time, order some chicks of different breeds, and see who you like.
Mary

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't think so. Hatchery quality birds often lay more, and are generally more active than show bred birds. The few show bred birds I have had were gorgeous, but they didn't lay much, and were a bit lazy.

 

[Kiki]

No, it is not a bad thing.

 

[AngieDawn]

Thank you for the explanations. Very helpful!

 

[AngieDawn]

It's not really about 'bad' or 'good' exactly.
Most hatcheries are trying to sell chicks, so good egg production is important to them. Breeding 'to the standard' isn't so important, and good egg production can be better is breeding lines that aren't all that close to 'show quality', and rooster temperament may not be factored in either.
Nearly nobody selects for longevity! Most breeder birds, hatchery or otherwise, are one year of age, and not much older. So, many birds do die young, as by three or four years of age, because long life isn't considered in breeding stock.
People who want birds that might win at shows may select for looks above all else, so egg production is low on their selection list. Big pretty birds who hardly lay any eggs can result.
Start somewhere! Disease risk is lower with hatchery birds, rather than backyard breeder's birds. I still get hatchery stock, won't ever enter my birds in a poultry show, but want them to resemble their breed.
Take time, order some chicks of different breeds, and see who you like.
Mary

I won’t show them although my kids have mentioned it a few times so who knows about the future. So I guess my Meyers hatchery birds will suffice!

 

[Folly's place]

Start with some breeds that look interesting, and will do well in your climate, and see how it goes.
Some breeds we though sounded perfect, we didn't like, and some we hardly considered are the ones we've liked the best!
Children showing is 4H would be fun later, maybe. Clean legged bantams, solid colored, and sweet. But that's later, certainly not this year!
Mary

 

[AngieDawn]

Start with some breeds that look interesting, and will do well in your climate, and see how it goes.
Some breeds we though sounded perfect, we didn't like, and some we hardly considered are the ones we've liked the best!
Children showing is 4H would be fun later, maybe. Clean legged bantams, solid colored, and sweet. But that's later, certainly not this year!
Mary

I actually started out like 10 years ago with local breeder silkies male and female and chicks from Meyers all hens buff Orpington, white crested polish and barred rock
Then I had a barnyard mix from them but eventually the rooster became a problem so they had to go. So over the years the hens all passed.
Fast forward and I got some 4 sex links at a local feed store 2 years ago. They never seemed as healthy as the others and trust me it’s not space or feed etc. they have 500 sq feet of outdoor space Fort Knox and an 8x8 coop
2 has Issues from the beginning and one died within the first year (1st time that I had a you g hen die except when my stupid boxer killed one of them!)
The other is still with me but lays eggs in its sleep and is just weird.
Anyway I just order the leannes adoption bundle because I wanted a mix and I have 12 healthy birds. They are 7 weeks old and i love them all. I think 3 roosters out of the bunch so I’ll deal with that in a few weeks
Then I got some light Brahma and lavender Orpington and 2 mixes From an aquaintance and they are about 3 weeks. Not sure if they are boys or girls yet either.

so I’m not totally new to chickens but not an expert either
I just didn’t understand hatchery quality and thought it was a bad thing like a puppy mill or something.

 

[Folly's place]

Because I decided to breed white Chanteclers, and Cackle is the only hatchery who has them, I've ordered several time there, several breeds. The birds have been very nice!
Our one Meyers order had many deaths, the 'shipped chicks' story, very sad. The survivors were fine though, and Murray McMurray's chicks have been good too.
What breeds did you get this year?
Mary

 

[AngieDawn]

Because I decided to breed white Chanteclers, and Cackle is the only hatchery who has them, I've ordered several time there, several breeds. The birds have been very nice!
Our one Meyers order had many deaths, the 'shipped chicks' story, very sad. The survivors were fine though, and Murray McMurray's chicks have been good too.
What breeds did you get this year?
Mary

That is a good question. Lol

I order leannes adoption bundle so if you go to the gender and breed forum you’ll see plenty of posts from me

I’m not sure about many but as of today I believe I have 4 black copper Marans (not positive though because I thought they were jersey giants at first), one polish hen, one buff Brahma hen, 2 buckeyes I believe a pair but not sure yet, a blue Cochin hen, a barred rock cockerel, and an Easter egger hen