My Personal Hatchery Test

[FireTigeris]

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great idea, what birds are APA SOP and what % gender correct- unless you got straight run...

 

[suzettex5]

Hmmm, I gues the employees coulda been mistaken about the bantams being sexed. Do any sexlinks come in bantam sizes?

IDK- even if they were straight run, I got waaaay more than the average amount of males, more like 75% males. Almost every silkie, cochin and frizzle I got turned out to be roo's, Good thing for them they are small and not aggressive. My kids love 'em, so I guess they stay.

 

[NC29mom]

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well, they shouldn't because bantams are the hardest to sex. BUT; also, remember - they only have to be like 80% correct. And then, what? You get your $2 back?? In my eyes, if they really could sex them, you would be hitting right on their listed percentage every time.

 

[Tony O]

No one mentioned 'Estes Hatchery'. I ordered 200 RIR pullets this spring. I recieved 208 chicks, all alive.

They did the best job of sexing chicks of any hatchery I've ever dealt with. There was only ONE rooster out of them all.

 

[VioletandBodie]

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i think becuase because were not aduolts and its just to be fun and teach us responsiblity (this happens when i show cows to)

 

[Baybrio]

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The OP didn't say the chickens were "APA Show" quality, the OP said "I know a lot of people in the 4H club really poo pa the hatchery chicks..."

 

[Katy]

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The OP didn't say the chickens were "APA Show" quality, the OP said "I know a lot of people in the 4H club really poo pa the hatchery chicks..."

I take it to mean tho that he considers his test of hatchery birds a success since they won some ribbons.....my point is that unless it was an APA show with APA judges the ribbons from most 4-H shows don't mean a whole lot.

 

[sianara]

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well, they shouldn't because bantams are the hardest to sex. BUT; also, remember - they only have to be like 80% correct. And then, what? You get your $2 back?? In my eyes, if they really could sex them, you would be hitting right on their listed percentage every time.

Yep, they sex them. Last year I ordered 10, nine females and 1 male. They got it spot on!

This year however I ordered 4 standard sized hens and ended up with 2 males

. BUT they got the bantams sexes right! They promise 90% accuracy.

 

[Muggsmagee]

Baybrio wrote:
Katy wrote:
I'm glad you were happy with your hatchery orders and I'm glad your kids did well at the fair.

I will say this tho in regards to the placings at the 4-H fair.....I've seen what kind of birds win at the 4-H fairs around here. Not even close to APA standards 9 times out of 10.
The OP didn't say the chickens were "APA Show" quality, the OP said "I know a lot of people in the 4H club really poo pa the hatchery chicks..."
I take it to mean tho that he considers his test of hatchery birds a success since they won some ribbons.....my point is that unless it was an APA show with APA judges the ribbons from most 4-H shows don't mean a whole lot.

Katy got to it before I did...I was under the same impression that the implication the hatchery birds were of quality stock for winning ribbons in 4-H. I was also going to mention that 4-H ribbon results don't necessarily mean they are the best birds or standard/quality. It is sometimes difficult interpreting the written word.

The comment that was made had me thinking of a Salmon Faverolles rooster I got from MMH. I also bought hatching SF eggs from a breeder, and the difference between the birds was incredible. I kept the breeder's cockerel and pullets, and I gave the SF rooster from MMH to my friend's daughter and she showed him in the county fair for 4-H. She won best breed and best reserve champion with him.

You just got me thinking that 4-H results aren't the best to go by to give a complete reflection on the quality of birds you might get from hatcheries. The best litmus test would be to take the birds to breed specific shows.

Hatcheries are perfect for buying large quantities/varieties of birds to jump start your backyard flock, and for our kids participating in 4-H! Something else to think about, you can show chickens in 4-H that are not even recognized by the APA! Anywho...these posts just got me thinking.