Regarding hatchery stock

[FarmGirl01]

Quote:

 

[greathorse]

One of the real issues for a person that does not have a lot of experience with a breed is that one may not know which to keep which to cull and most importantly how to cross to improve.

Breeders with years of experience could likely make something of hatchery birds given a lifetime of breeding. One with little experience may not improve them at alll.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

I agree that starting with breeding stock would be the best way to go. For me the issue is paying $5 per egg for good stock and then not have any hatch due to bad Post Office shipping. I have excellent hatch rates with my own eggs so I know it isn't necessarily my incubating methods. If I spend $60 on a dozen eggs and have no eggs hatch or get up to %50 then I have paid a minimum of $10 for a day old chick. I don't mind spending money on good stock but this seems to be high for a day old. I'm just trying to figure out another way to acquire breeding stock since the shipped eggs haven't been very successful. I have lost 1.5 years doing this. There have been other issues as well, I'm merely looking for other routes to take. It would help if there were breeders in my area but the few breeders in my area do not have either of these breeds. Thanks for all the information.

 

[j.luetkemeyer]

Quote:
Thanks for the information!

 

[greathorse]

You are within driving range of some of the country's better breeders and poultry shows. I would get the poultry Press look for breeders and shows and see if you cant come up with a trio of the breed you want. You will spend a fortune and a lot of time to maybe improve the breeds you like. It just is not worth it.

I went through the same thing as you did, but if you get connected with a couple of good breeders and take some time you will find some good ones.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

j.luetkemeyer :

I agree that starting with breeding stock would be the best way to go. For me the issue is paying $5 per egg for good stock and then not have any hatch due to bad Post Office shipping. I have excellent hatch rates with my own eggs so I know it isn't necessarily my incubating methods. If I spend $60 on a dozen eggs and have no eggs hatch or get up to %50 then I have paid a minimum of $10 for a day old chick. I don't mind spending money on good stock but this seems to be high for a day old. I'm just trying to figure out another way to acquire breeding stock since the shipped eggs haven't been very successful. I have lost 1.5 years doing this. There have been other issues as well, I'm merely looking for other routes to take. It would help if there were breeders in my area but the few breeders in my area do not have either of these breeds. Thanks for all the information.

I know where you're coming from. Over the past several months I have spent much time and money in receiving and trying to incubate scrambled eggs, also had birds from a very reputable breeder end up with webbed feet. Plus in my (limited) experience, and reading several particular breed threads, the ones people get rid of many say they should not even call them whatever breed they are because they're culls. I also spent time at 3 shows looking for the breeds I want, and of course those ones are never for sale!

Look at the prettiest hen contest going on now over on online poultry show. Some think the most beautiful (and it looks to my untrained eye she's pretty close to standard) is Posey, a dark brahma who is from a hatchery!​

 

[Katy]

j.luetkemeyer :

I agree that starting with breeding stock would be the best way to go. For me the issue is paying $5 per egg for good stock and then not have any hatch due to bad Post Office shipping. I have excellent hatch rates with my own eggs so I know it isn't necessarily my incubating methods. If I spend $60 on a dozen eggs and have no eggs hatch or get up to %50 then I have paid a minimum of $10 for a day old chick. I don't mind spending money on good stock but this seems to be high for a day old. I'm just trying to figure out another way to acquire breeding stock since the shipped eggs haven't been very successful. I have lost 1.5 years doing this. There have been other issues as well, I'm merely looking for other routes to take. It would help if there were breeders in my area but the few breeders in my area do not have either of these breeds. Thanks for all the information.

I know how it is to try and get your start from shipped hatching eggs, but that's what I had to do. I had much more than $10 per chick in some of my hatches. You will end up with at least that much per chick in hatchery chicks when you figure all the feed you have in the chicks that you end up feeding for weeks or in some cases months only to find out they're no where near the APA standard.​

 

[PeepsInc]

We order from mount healthy hatchery from time to time. Out of 50 BLRW's 10 were of decent quality. That's 10 good birds at $150. The same with their silkies. No matter how you purchase your birds(eggs) you have to work as a breeder to have quality stock. Most people don't put enough emphasis on keeping several roosters that carry different traits...... In short there isn't any magic short cut to having quality stock. That's what makes quality birds valuable.

 

[Ryu]

I went through the same thing getting started with Dark Cornish. Rare and nearly impossible to get good type from a hatchery. I didn't have much luck into I joined the breed club and went to some shows to pick up breeding birds.

An investment up front of time and money, but in the long run it is the most economical to get the best birds.

Late summer and early fall is the best time to get breeding stock. The Breeder will be done setting eggs, and have some young birds ready to cull from their flock.

 

[()relics]

This is just My Opinion....If you start with hatchery stock you will always have hatchery stock. Some hatchery chicks/birds are ok but most are simply a production grade bird. If you want eggs or meat birds there is absolutely nothing wrong with buying from a hatchery BUT if you want a show quality bird you are just wasting your time and money fooling around with hatchery stock.
Eggs are a similar gamble. If you are not an experienced hatcher you are again wasting your money...Far better an idea would be to contact a breeder/showman in your area and buy a few of their birds to get started. Most breeders/showman, me included, end up with more birds/chicks/eggs than can be put to use. I regularly feed excess eggs to the pigs because I just have too many. I know other breeders have similar disposal methods, and like me, if they knew someone wanted them and came to pick them up when they had accumulated they would be "free for the taking" or at a very reduced price. I have a young 4her that ocasionally does chores for me. I tell him any eggs he collects are his to do with as he pleases. Many times a year birds "become available" again they need to be sold or eaten, the later is generally not an option. At least buying birds that you can see and put your hands on, eliminates the stress and possible loss of shipping....again JMO