rare chickens.. what ?

[momof247371]

I hear about all of these rare birds(chickens,ducks,geese,turkeys,etc) all the time. You have some that are rare because of egg color, feather color, leg color,etc...some that are endangered some that are close to being non existant, etc.. When you look at the price of the eggs /birds they are outrageous. Now, can someone explain to me why are they so expensive, if people made them cheaper and expanded the breeding program and bloodlines wouldnt they make a quicker comeback? It would definatley help the numbers. Why does it work where the rarer the bird the higher the price? it just doesnt make sense to me. Other than making so much money off the eggs/birds, how are the breeders helping the actual increase in the birds numbers? Im confused.. Do i have a point.. or am i totally lost? someone please explain.....

this is not a rant or ment to put breeders down, i have just always wondered this...Just tryin to get it to make sense to me...

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Nobody's "making a killing" on chickens, except maybe Foster Farms.

 

[sred98]

Ok...here is how I see it. And let me start off by saying that I am not a breeder or hatchery.

If you are trying to revive a breed, you want to choose the offspring that have the best example of the breed's characteristics. We all know people that get off-colors or some little quirky thing that isn't quite right when they hatch out their eggs. It happens. It's just like someone selling "pet quality" puppies, from "show quality" dogs. They usually have a spay and neuter agreement with them, and the show dogs usually have a breeding rights agreement. Your goal is to improve the breed and keep the standard acceptable.

You can tell a HUGE difference in a Lab that is true show quality and one that is pet quality. There is no comparison. You can buy a registered lab anywhere for a very small amount of money. You can't touch a show quality for anywhere near $1000. It's usually much much more.

You are paying for the quality, the work, the culling. Out of 100 baby chickens born, maybe only 4 or 5 meet or exceed the standard of perfection. That is the goal.

Shelly

 

[noitulover]

Quote:
true that haha


and also, if everyone and their brother were breeding some of the rarer breeds, then rose-combed chickens would be coming out with single combs, and etc. etc.

a lot of breeds like BC Marans, true Ameraucanas, Lakenvelders, have strict traits. if these were really cheap and bred by everyone, then their traits that make them specific, would probably be lost.

also, breeds like australorps, orpingtons, sex links, leghorns, RIR, NHR, etc. are much cheaper because they are in higher demand. most people like them the best for egg laying purposes, dual purposes, being friendly and docile, etc.

Hatcheries will hatch more of these since they are in high demand. the chicks also don't have a high mortality rate like Sebrights or Faverolles.

The more "rare" a breed is, the less breeding stock they probably have, as well as less of a demand. it's probably more expensive to keep those breeding pens.

in short, there are many, many reasons why certain breeds are more expensive.

 

[Randy]

It's that way for everything that's rare, not just birds. Also there is nothing wrong with capitalism.


A better question is why are some people so dang cheap? Why do they think they can get coronation sussex for leghorn prices?

 

[noitulover]

forgot to say... some breeds like cochins, sebrights, silkies, or other breeds, may be more expensive, as they lay less eggs than say, an Orpington.

if ONE orpington lays 6 eggs in a week, and ONE sebright lays only one, then the sebright chick will be more expensive because both hens occupied room and feed, except one brought in more money.

 

[Chris09]

I think too many people see the prices at the hatcheries on line and then the price that a breeder wants and think the breeder is out to make a killing..
I have to say there is nothing further from the truth a breeder will never make a killing.. I breed Exhibition Large Fowl Rhode Island Reds for myself and if I hatch 300 eggs a year I might have 50 that I would call Show Quality birds at the age of 6 months and by 12 months there might be 10 that I would call Exhibition Stock and out of that 10 birds there might be a pair that I will put in the breeding pen.
That a lot of time, feed and money for 10 Exhibition RIR's.

The breeds that you get for the hatchery is by far the quality that you get from a breeder. With a hatchery you get something close to what that breed is supposed to be.

Chris

 

[momof247371]

ok that does all make sense, nothing wrong with capitalism, like i said i am not against breeders. I do sell baby chicks myself, but someone brought to my attention the price of some chickens as opposed to others, and i thought it was a good point...

 

[Msbear]

Quote:

I totally understand where the OP is coming from but now realize the expense in purchasing quality stock. A rare breed from the hatchery may not even meet the standard of that breed so if you were truly interested in maintaining that breed, you have no other choice than to find a reputable breeder. That breeder does not hatch 1,000's ...maybe not even 100's. And his/her coops may have runs or they may freerange... not just stacked on top of eachother. And they are eating quality grains and given suplements, etc. All of this costs money.

So even birds that may not be "rare" but are of excellent quality, the price will still be high. I know of someone on here that breeds RIR and they look nothing like any RIR's I've seen at the fair

and they cost a whole lot more. This breeder is getting compensation for that expertise. Many breeders won't sell any birds for under $20 just because they want to make sure the purchaser is truly interested in the breed and is more dedicated than say someone who gets 10 birds for $20... just like an adoption fee at the ASPCA. That fee goes toward expenses incurred by the facility but is mostly just a way to help make sure a person is truly dedicated to caring for that animal.

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I saw an ad on the local Craigslist for "rare" Barred Rocks. I could have croaked.