??? on becoming a reputable Backyard Breeder

[Dawn419]

I am blessed/cursed with a DH whom loves to go "all out" on projects.

What does it involve to become a quality flock keeper?

Biosecurity is kind of screwed as our land lady's driveway to her farm connects with our driveway but I still do everything I can to insure that we don't bring anything from her place to our place.

I've explained this to him but he doesn't want to give up....

We're looking at getting into Silver Spangled Hamburgs.

All help will be appreciated...can accept the good with the bad so don't take it easy on us!

Thanks in advance!

Dawn

 

[herechickchick]

Get Storeys Guide to Raising Chickens it has a lot of info on building a quality breeding stock. It will tell you everything you need to know to get it up and running. One piece of advise in the book is a hard pill to swallow "CULL RUTHLESSLY" you want only the best and to get that you have to eliminate the second best. Just something to think about before you get started.

 

[Rafter 7 Paint Horses]

Sorry to say this, but I agree....CULL RUTHLESSLY.

This doesn't mean you have to kill them. You can give them away or sell them. Just make sure whoever you sell or give them to knows that these are your culls. You want a reputation of being honest with your customers.
Of course if you do this, people may just want to buy your culls at a discounted price & not want to pay for the best quality.

Keep your breeders penned by breed, in a covered area to prevent any unplanned breeding by a different rooster.
Breed only the best to the best.

Read several books & check out a lot of websites of breeders.

This is what I can think of right now.

Jean

 

[Anne]

1) It helps immensely to start with the best stock available. Seek out the best breeder in the country, one who has countless show awards, and pay whatever it takes to get some hatching eggs or good quality birds from them.

2) Know the Standard for your breed word-for-word. Go to shows and look at the winners for your breed. Learn what an excellent specimen of the breed looks like.

3) Join the club for your breed. They usually offer many benefits, such as a newsletter with breeding tips, a breeder's directory, announcements of show winnings for it's members, etc. Being a member of the breed club also adds to your credibility.

4) Become a member of the National Poultry Improvement Plan. They will test your birds for a number of things and that will add to your credibility. Many people prefer to buy from NPIP flocks.

5) Echoing those who replied before me, you WILL have to cull ruthlessly!!! Breed ONLY your best birds. Don't breed anything inferior -- it could set your breeding program back by years.

6) Lastly, have an attractive, informative, uncluttered, easily navigatable website with lots of good pictures of your birds. The internet is how most people will find you, and a good website is instant credibility.

I hope that helps.

Sincerely,

Anne

 

[greyfields]

Very nice website, Anne. I miss going to Bellingham for fish & chips!

I just got my Sportsman 1502 incubator this week. I'll be breeding black sex links for myself and a neighbor who has layers. I'm hoping it's the beginning of something enjoyable that will continue to grow.

 

[Anne]

Thanks "greyfields."

Glad you liked the site.

Best of luck with your hatching!

 

[Dawn419]

Thank you all for your replies!

At this rate, we're gonna need a bigger yard with alot more flat space than we have now!

Dawn