So I decided I really want to raise Orpingtons but I didn't want hatchery blood line. So I got to looking for a breeder. I found 2.
#1 Sells eggs only via the mail or chicks by pick up only (they live WAY to far for me to drive). I don't have an incubator and really don't want one. I was hoping to let momma hen do it or a surrogate hen do it.
So in order to get these chickens I would have to buy an incubator and 2 dozen eggs and hope that most hatch out and that I get the right number of females and male that I want.
#2 Doesn't even sell the eggs or chicks but want to sell 8-12 wk old juveniles for $200 a bird! They said it was because the import them, but from their pictures it looks like they breed their own. So I don't know, but I do know that I'm not paying $1400 to get 7 birds.
So now I'm back to hatchery blood lines. Which are OK, I've gotten most of my chicken from them. But (no offense here) they are on the low end of the standards. Both of my Orpingtons that I've gotten have been beautiful but small and lay small eggs.
I hear people promoting all the time about "sustaining a pure breed" but at the prices people are asking how can a small time backyard farmer do it. I have the space, time and desire to breed true and not just hatch for hatching sake but I can't affords hundreds of dollars just to get a starter flock. And its not like I'm wanting to breed some rare exotic birds that have a low survival rate.
I understand that once I get them that I can breed my own and no longer will give them a profit by buying more chickens from them. But come on I can see $50 a bird but more is just too much.
So keep your expensive birds and watch as mutts become the new standard chicken breed.
If you read this, thank you for listening to me rant. I'm still hoping on Orpingtons but will have to wait and hope Santa brings me one this year.
#1 Sells eggs only via the mail or chicks by pick up only (they live WAY to far for me to drive). I don't have an incubator and really don't want one. I was hoping to let momma hen do it or a surrogate hen do it.
So in order to get these chickens I would have to buy an incubator and 2 dozen eggs and hope that most hatch out and that I get the right number of females and male that I want.
#2 Doesn't even sell the eggs or chicks but want to sell 8-12 wk old juveniles for $200 a bird! They said it was because the import them, but from their pictures it looks like they breed their own. So I don't know, but I do know that I'm not paying $1400 to get 7 birds.
So now I'm back to hatchery blood lines. Which are OK, I've gotten most of my chicken from them. But (no offense here) they are on the low end of the standards. Both of my Orpingtons that I've gotten have been beautiful but small and lay small eggs.
I hear people promoting all the time about "sustaining a pure breed" but at the prices people are asking how can a small time backyard farmer do it. I have the space, time and desire to breed true and not just hatch for hatching sake but I can't affords hundreds of dollars just to get a starter flock. And its not like I'm wanting to breed some rare exotic birds that have a low survival rate.
I understand that once I get them that I can breed my own and no longer will give them a profit by buying more chickens from them. But come on I can see $50 a bird but more is just too much.
So keep your expensive birds and watch as mutts become the new standard chicken breed.
If you read this, thank you for listening to me rant. I'm still hoping on Orpingtons but will have to wait and hope Santa brings me one this year.
I have bought a pullet from SQ stock for $10! 
