Quality hatchery?

[brahmabreeder]

One other thing that is often true of hatchery birds that people seem to not mention, is that they often lack breed traits and I'm not talking physical appearance here. Dual purpose breeds bred for egg laying efficiency no longer have good meat qualities, winter layers are no longer winter layers, calm docile breeds are no longer calm and docile. Hatchery birds sacrifice everything for egg production. Which is fine if that's your only goal, but the reason you see so much disappoint is often people read in books or on-line that this breed is like this, or this other breed is like this, and so on. They do their research, pick a breed and then order from the hatchery, and are disappointed these breeds do not meet their expectations.

Very well put

 

[stefan333]

One other thing that is often true of hatchery birds that people seem to not mention, is that they often lack breed traits and I'm not talking physical appearance here. Dual purpose breeds bred for egg laying efficiency no longer have good meat qualities, winter layers are no longer winter layers, calm docile breeds are no longer calm and docile. Hatchery birds sacrifice everything for egg production. Which is fine if that's your only goal, but the reason you see so much disappoint is often people read in books or on-line that this breed is like this, or this other breed is like this, and so on. They do their research, pick a breed and then order from the hatchery, and are disappointed these breeds do not meet their expectations.

I agree very much with this, but also I think it does depend on the hatchery, too. I have so many chickens from so many different hatcheries that some of them I can't remember where they came from. My efowl chickens and ones I got from Poultry Hollow Hatchery (which is more of a local farm in TN) stand out to me, though, because they are very true to breed -nice and meaty and good egg layers. If you compare them to the same breeds I've gotten from other places you can tell a difference. I have noticed a huge difference between my RIR and Brahmas personalities that I got from Poultry Hollow vs other hatcheries. Why in God's name do hatcheries list their RIR and Brahmas as docile? I bought more because I thought they'd be as nice as my first ones from PH. They were the meanest peckiest craziest chickens. I thought they were bad until I got my SLW's who I had to separate from the others cause of aggressive feather picking. Forget about protein deficiency, overcrowding, or boredom -they are just mean. Unfortunately, my hubby has a heart for them, so we have to keep them -at least until we can eat them.

 

[PancakeShiners]

Hatcheries are ok. But I have a problem with the Brahmas I find. I've been trying to find a place with full-size Buff Brahmas with no luck. No breeder nearby, hatcheries give me tiny ones whose quality varies. I love big birds.

 

[Vamvakas]

No such thing as a "good quality hatchery". You get small birds, and wrong color.

 

[TheCrazyChick]

Hatcheries are ok. But I have a problem with the Brahmas I find. I've been trying to find a place with full-size Buff Brahmas with no luck. No breeder nearby, hatcheries give me tiny ones whose quality varies. I love big birds.

I have a 5 month old buff brahma from Meyer hatchery in Ohio. She is gorgeous and she is huge. My husband did not like my chicken hobby until he saw what a beautiful bird the buff brahma had become. Our blue laced red Wyandotte Is also massive and drop dead gorgeous. Barred rock is beautiful. Black australorp has lovely iridescent blue and green shimmers on her black feathers. Easter Egger is a mutt of course, but unbelievable spangles and lacing on her breasts. Silver spangled hamburg is so beautiful I swear I could stare at her for hours. Just my experience, but I think Meyer hatchery has above average birds. (My white jersey giant does has a flaw, as she has one black feather on her side.)

 

[PancakeShiners]

I had been considering Meyer. Maybe I'll give them a try. ^^ Thanks. Another thing I like with Brahmas is their shape, wide with lots of feathers and shorter necks, but hey, can't have everything with hatcheries, right? Lol

I've ordered from Ideal before. Theirs vary. I got one who was almost perfect but way too small.