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I don't think sending out hatching eggs would be beneficial. Let's say by throw of the dice someone hatched out a dozen with the various faults you want to eliminate. They are out of your control BUT, the hatcher(person) could say "Hey, I've got Queen Misha's chicks - bring big bucks and they are yours. "
Don't know if it would be possible to "vet" folks wanting eggs. At least if they are offering older chicks you know what's good and what isn't. Maybe chicken folks aren't like that but, dog people were.
I know I am a party pooper. But, you are meticulous and many are not. I feel very protective of the future chicks, even though they aren't mine. I will go sit in a corner and try to
You bring up exactly the point I've been mulling over and why I think it's pretty unlikely I'll be selling hatching eggs or young chicks. This is what I see all the serious folks doing - people who have those real gems, quality Standardbred stock and the like, sell juvies and adults and nothing else. Because that way the customer knows what they're getting, and the breeder knows what they're selling. If I expect to get the results a serious breeder will expect from a serious project, then I figure I need to act like a serious breeder. I need to manage my stock carefully, including managing which birds go to whom.
And please, do keep talking! You have a wonderful point of view on things, Diva, and I truly appreciate your input.
Well, they aren't Autosexing (yet - that's a future idea I've been entertaining). Rather, they're sex linked, the one-time version. I was able to successfully sex a test run of five Silkie chicks at hatch this past summer, ending up with three cockerels and two pullets. I'm currently acquiring more female breeding stock and intend on rolling out this new line of chicks this next spring. It'll be a nice little income for the spring, but this project is what I'm calling my "public service" project. I see so many city folks who want Silkies, badly, but aren't willing to risk falling in love with and then having to rehome all the "oopsters" from a straight run batch, and don't want to pay the big bucks for DNA sexed pullets. I'm using breeder quality stock, but this is all for the pet market - I like to make people happy and I think this project will have a beneficial influence on the local poultry community.
Here is one of the test pullets, next to my (almost) exhibition quality Buff girl, Taylor:
Thank you. Like I've said above, it's doubtful I'll be selling chicks. But I should have some juvies or young adults available at some point... we'll have to see how the hatches go and what kind of stock I end up with. And how much of my craziness my boss is willing to deal with!
