Sebbie Flying

[feathersandfluff]

We started seperating our Sebastopols today for their breeding season. Our problem was we had to use a boat to herd them since they refused to come off of their pond. Husband had to use a small paddle boat to herd them into the shore. It was as much of a riot as it was last month when we attempted to sex them. Geese do have memories. The minute they seen that paddle boat coming off of the bank they were gone. At least we got 1/2 of them divided. and can look forward tomorrow to going thru this again.`
Reading that the Sebastopol Breed was on the endangered list until a couple of years ago. Now they are still considered rare. I think we have to thank D. Holderread for doing so much to bring their amazing breed back.
Dorothy

 

[Cottage Rose]

I think alot of the waterfowl and poultry that are listed as rare or endangered truly aren't.
I find it puzzling that many of these so called "rare" breeds are available at a number
of commercial hatcheries.

 

[Chickies-duckies-etc]

Quote:
I agree with this. In reading some of the ALBC's guidlines, they refer to numbers of breeders with certain numbers of birds per flock. I assume that those breeders have to be ALBC members? So there can be lots of people that have birds of a given breed, but if they are not ALBC members then those birds do not count toward the numbers count? How else to explain lots of hatcheries selling huge numbers of birds that are on the "endangered" list. Not to mention the same breeds showing up in large numbers at swaps and other poultry sales.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
I agree with this. In reading some of the ALBC's guidlines, they refer to numbers of breeders with certain numbers of birds per flock. I assume that those breeders have to be ALBC members? So there can be lots of people that have birds of a given breed, but if they are not ALBC members then those birds do not count toward the numbers count? How else to explain lots of hatcheries selling huge numbers of birds that are on the "endangered" list. Not to mention the same breeds showing up in large numbers at swaps and other poultry sales.

I live close to The ALBC's home office and volunteered to try and update their questionnaire mailing list, but was told not to bother. The list contains all the people that have reported in the past that they raise the birds in question, member or not. I offered to search APA. ABA and on the Internet to build their list and get a better sample, but they just weren’t interested…

 

[Cottage Rose]

Interesting GD.
Not sure if the ALBC takes donations but their main interest might be fund raising
vs. the facts.

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
All I will say is yes they are always looking for donations. I split from them when they started mixing In NC state and local politics on the side of organic growers and certain forestry interests. I protested that these issues had nothing to do with Livestock Breeds and the reply I got back was that most of their supporters were organic and associated with Green causes (explains why they don't include commercial hatcheries in their surveys)

 

[ultasol]

Another issue may be if those hatcheries are breeding 'true to type' For instance, in the Wyandotte chicken, you can get 'wyandottes' from almost any hatchery, but the birds are very small compared to what the type calls for, and what the wyandotte breed truely is. Same thing that Ameracauna (spelling) breeders struggle with, easter eggers are routinely sold by hatcherys/feed stores as such.

Perhaps they are trying to include only those that breed the true to type birds..?

 

[feathersandfluff]

You have a good "point"!

 

[Cottage Rose]

Quote:
Hatchery stock is pet quality.
As for the Ameraucanas, indeed Easter Eggers (mutts)
are sold as Ameraucanas but I would dare say most of
the older established breeds
are what they say they are but just poor quality
and a poor example of the breed.
Since most hatcheries are merely brokers
there is no control over what they are selling.
If you want quality, pay more and purchase from reputable breeders
that know what they're doing.
As the saying goes..."you get what you pay for."

 

[goosedragon]

Quote:
Hatchery stock is pet quality.
As for the Ameraucanas, indeed Easter Eggers (mutts)
are sold as Ameraucanas but I would dare say most of
the older established breeds
are what they say they are but just poor quality
and a poor example of the breed.
Since most hatcheries are merely brokers
there is no control over what they are selling.
If you want quality, pay more and purchase from reputable breeders
that know what they're doing.
As the saying goes..."you get what you pay for."

You can't always get what you want, but if you try real hard you can get what you need! Hatcheries mostly produce production birds Show birds are the peak of perfection and if care isn't taken in breeding they will revert back to the production birds in 3-4 generations.