rare chickens.. what ?

[EweSheep]

Quote:
I agree with this comment. For Welsummer Bantams and Spitzhaubens I raise, it is very expensive to keep it going and culling so heavy to get the ideal or acceptable trait to use for breeding. These two breeds are expensive to buy as well. Welsummer Bantams usually run about 20 to 40 dollars a piece if you are lucky to get it that cheaply. Seeing 200 dollars for a trio is not all that unusual.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
Were they 'Show Quality"... that would make them 'rare'.

 

[Chris09]

Well Barred Rocks are getting like Rhode Island Reds hard to find the one that look like there supposed to so mabe he was going on that.. I wouldnt say Barred Rocks are Rare just hard to find the good ones.

Chris

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I would agree that the expense of quality stock makes it hard to help conserve a rare breed.

We have the space, and a certain amount to spend on poultry and equipment. We would like to help preserve a critically rare breed.

It would be heart-breaking to spend $200 on breeding stock but not spend it on the protective fencing and lose them to a predator or to a disease. So this year we have less expensive stock and are trying to get all the first-year lessons learned.

Hatching 100 birds to keep 10 means a lot of culls. What does everyone do with all their culls? I know this is more of a chickens-are-pets-and-friends kind of site, but it seems a waste not to eat the does-not-match-standard birds in these situations. However, many breeds are so small...

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I under stand what you are saying but if you spend $200.00 on breeding stock I would think that you would not let them free range..

I have all breeder in a coop and run "pen".. The coops are 4'x8' and the runs are 4'x16' each "pen" holds 5 hens and 1 rooster..

Hatching 100 birds and keeping 10 is a lot of culls.. With me a good 75% of my culls go to the freezer...

Chris

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Chris09 has a lot of good advise.

I'm gonna add my own $.02 on the situation.

Going with less expensive stock the first year or two is a great idea. As you are going through your "learning curve," you can research the breeds you are wanting to preserve. Join a club (lots of breeds have them, a lot of them are free to join online), try and talk to some folks who've raised the breed (preferably for more than a year or two). You'll find out what traits to look for in possible stock, and what to select for once you start breeding. Heck, you may even find out that what you thought you might like won't fit your situation and then run across the perfect breed to preserve.

As you're talking to folks, you're actually networking. This is great because you'll know who to go to in order to purchase your stock. Along the way you might even find folks who will offer to discount their usual asking price. Generally this only happens when they realize you're truly serious and not just trying to get something for nothing or out to mass produce and breed willy-nilly to make a quick buck.

Now, you'll come across some folks that will snub you. Just ignore them and don't let that get you down. There are plenty of other folks out there willing to help and offer advise.

Oh, and those small birds eat just as good as the big ones. It just takes more of them to make a good pot of chicken and dumplings.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
I have only put down a few birds as my culls and that was because of horrid temperments. I not only go for looks & breed standard, but they have to be nice, too. There are too many unwanted (sweet) roos to waste time on a blood-thirsty one! LOL As far as my seconds...I have had good luck with Craigslist. However, there is a fine line between too pricey & too cheap. I want mine to go to good homes, but if they end up in a stew pot...that's their new owners' objective, IMO.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

Quote:
True! I mean, what's wrong with spending $4,500.00+ for a pair of "rare birds?" LOL What frustrates me even more is when I see people with rare breeds that still need a lot of development and the next thing I know, they are selling them for $20 or $25 for a dozen eggs and everyone & their mom is snatching them up for those cheap prices...most with the intention of "breeding" them to make money! So for those of us working on type, color, combs, temperment and pricing our birds accordingly, it pretty much kills the market for higher-quality birds...why would Joe Bob come to me & want MY eggs if they are $50 for 6, when he can go on eBay and get "the same thing" for 1/2 the price and two times as many eggs? Sighs.

Also, if you're hoping to make money...give up now! LOL I've been tracking my expenses & net/gross and so far, I'm about $2,000 behind (with my new coop project).

There are two ways you can sell eggs (IMO) quantity = cheap or quality = expensive. My birds are not a source of income. Mine is a hobby on the side of my "real" job. I'm lucky if my birds pay for their own feed at this point.

 

[Blackbird]

For my breeding birds, a lot of my female 'culls' go with the layers, might not lay as much depending on breed, but I'm not picky about eggs.

Depends on breed size on whether or not they go to the freezer. Some may have potential for others.