Quality of ideal poultry 's birds

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
The reason is that breeders tend to focus on one or two breeds, but Ideal has hundreds they have to deal with. Since they are such a large-scale operation, they don't have the time to cull and introduce good stock. They have a lot of orders they need to fill out and they just don't have the time to worry about whether they're show quality or not. Though sometimes you can get some decent birds from hatcheries, it's most likely you won't.

 

[gritsar]

What impresses me most about my Ideal birds is how doggone healthy and hardy the little boogers are.
My dark brahmas are very good looking for hatchery birds.

 

[WalkingWolf]

Quote:
I'll second that, not like the eggs I ordered from a breeder who made claims, and then sent me and others perfect uniform sized bleach white eggs. Too bad they were infertile as they were with everybody else who bought. From the looks we were sold supermarket eggs. But I can't be sure of that, but I can't be sure somebody says they have show quality birds that they sell for a buck a egg. Or $10 show birds if you are really buying show birds they would cost a arm and leg. I payed $10.00 a egg for eggs from a reputable breeder. A trio from him costs $150.00. I have heard of locally proven birds going for up to $1,000.00.

I agree that Ideal does not have time to cull, but then I'm sure in that they don't waste time or money keeping sick birds alive either. There is more into making show birds than just genetics. And because the parents are show birds there is no guarantee you will get show birds.

I am very happy with my Ideal birds. But then I can see why a few small breeders might want to put them down. Just Saying!

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Quote:
I'll second that, not like the eggs I ordered from a breeder who made claims, and then sent me and others perfect uniform sized bleach white eggs. Too bad they were infertile as they were with everybody else who bought. From the looks we were sold supermarket eggs. But I can't be sure of that, but I can't be sure somebody says they have show quality birds that they sell for a buck a egg. Or $10 show birds if you are really buying show birds they would cost a arm and leg. I payed $10.00 a egg for eggs from a reputable breeder. A trio from him costs $150.00. I have heard of locally proven birds going for up to $1,000.00.

I agree that Ideal does not have time to cull, but then I'm sure in that they don't waste time or money keeping sick birds alive either. There is more into making show birds than just genetics. And because the parents are show birds there is no guarantee you will get show birds.

I am very happy with my Ideal birds. But then I can see why a few small breeders might want to put them down. Just Saying!

Yep! Totally agreed. I am happy with mine and It shall be that way as long as I live! And I'm sorry to hear about those eggs. Some people will do anything for money.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
Chickens from reputable breeders will tend to be much better than hatchery birds, they take their time cull carefully in order to improve their stock. Hatcheries just churn them out in mass numbers and do not have the willingness nor the time to look at every single bird and check for 8 legs or twin beaks, so you just get what you get. Now there are some hatcheries that do a very decent job, but it is just business. I have actually ordered from both and now that I am set up to hatch, that is the road I am taking to just breed my own good quality backyard stock.

AL

 

[sandypaws]

sorry did not read all responses.. but i dont think any large hatchery PROMISES "show" quality birds...
i like IDEAL because they have nice, healthy, pretty, ect.. birds..i have orders several times from them and have always been happy... and NOT ONCE did i get double beaks or 8 legs... if you just want some pretty birds in your back yard to make you laugh and give you eggs, then order from IDEAL...

if you want SHOW birds you need to find someone specalizing in THAT breed.. and you are going to pay about 4Xs as much...

 

[Montana-Hens]

I have a Ideal Barred Plymouth Rock. She is large, has barred feathers, and is a great layer (including all winter in an insulated, no supplemental lighting, free range cold Montana chick)

I do not know but some say that breed standards may not lay as well as emphasis has been placed on physical traits primarily.

I do believe part of it is environmental, part of it it is genetics and part of it is a %&&^* shoot.

I am pleased with my Ideal order, the person who split my order loves her hens and I would definitely order from them again. But I want nice healthy, winter hearty layers, who are "cute" and nice.

 

[amazondoc]

I don't think hatchery birds are necessarily "worse" or "better" than breeder birds. You just have to keep in mind that the hatcheries are selecting for different qualities than private breeders.

Hatcheries are selecting for birds that produce a lot of eggs. The more eggs produced, the more the hatchery can sell. They are also probably selecting for high fertility, and high hatch rate. These qualities may be exactly what a buyer is looking for. Add to that, it's very easy to buy a lot of different breeds from a hatchery -- while it's often quite difficult to ferret out the private breeders. Also, private breeders usually sell eggs -- not sexed chicks.

OTOH, breeders are selecting for appearance -- how closely the bird conforms to a standard. Hatcheries are not gonna care a lot about that. And conforming to a standard may be exactly what another buyer is looking for.

Myself, I'm placing an order for around 35 birds from Ideal for the spring.

My reason for ordering is that I want brabanters. These are very difficult to find from breeders, and most breeders got their stock from Ideal anyway. And it's impossible to find brabanter breeders who will sell you sexed chicks -- and I want to start with a known sex ratio.

Since I'm already ordering brabanters, I added on a few more birds of rare breeds that would be difficult to find elsewhere. I'm not talking about the "rare" of some hatcheries that call things like speckled Sussex rare -- I'm talking about things like self-blue D'Uccles and Exchequer leghorns. Then I'm also getting a few Phoenix for my dad, who wants to give a present to a chicken-loving son of a friend, because Dad doesn't want to spend enough to buy started breeder birds. And then finally I'm ordering a few Hamburgs for a neighbor who wants some.

So you see, there's all sorts of reasons for getting hatchery birds. You just need to be clear about why you're buying the birds, and exactly what considerations are most important to you!

 

[cw]

thanks every one i will probably order from em

 

[sandypaws]

i was VERY happy with my blue cochins..... they were almost ALL blue,, they were healthy and calm..

this is my rooster from IDEAL (at 6 months old).. he might not be perfect for show.. but he is perfect for my backyard,, and perfectly behaved