Most productive over natural life

[speckledhen]

Quote:
I'm doing exactly the same thing, Ann. I had a broody and she was on one egg, so I got two SLW pullets from the feedstore to slip under her in case hers didnt hatch then bought a banty Cochin and a GLW as well. These are my last hatchery birds as far as I'm concerned, though. Of my 54 birds, I have only 13 that are hatchery stock; the ones I mentioned and the 7 original girls I have left and two Brahmas. As they pass on, they are being replaced with breeder stock or my own.

Shooting for healthy long-lived chickens just makes sense.

Exactly. We should all be doing that, in addition to preserving heritage breeds.​

 

[ThiefPouter06]

Well I see the chicken world isnt much different than the pigeon world lol. I recently bought 5 pigeons from the president of a national breed club and they produced some junk as well as nice ones haha. So all in all I do think you have to get what you can and breed for the best. But the replies did help me in my researching.

 

[AtRendeAcres]

I have to say my best steady layer or oldest layers are EE's


i don't think anyone is bashing but, I also agree if you want longevity you want stock from a breeder

I have gotton lots of chickens from hatcheries & they are much smaller & not ast strong (in my opinion)

I do not have great luck with eggs & spent lots of money on them (so buying from a breeder doesn't always work for me either)