I think two very important questions to ask privately before buying any stock (eggs or chickens) are:
~ Where did your stock come from?
~ What colors did you use to achieve your results?
Then the questions that you ask of the breeder you are considering buying from should be asked again of the breeder that they got their stock from.
The second question is very important with Lavenders and Isobel Porcelains.
For Lavender birds... if the breeder has used anything other than blacks and lavenders... IT WILL SHOW UP AND CAUSE PROBLEMS LATER.
For Isobel birds... If the breeder has used anything other than buffs and lavenders... YOUR RESULTS WILL NOT BE PREDICTABLE.
(Not capitalizing to yell... just make a clear point
)
All of that being said... it all depends on what you are wanting to do with your breeding program. Some people WANT to mix their lavenders with BBS or who knows what. This is GREAT! People should have fun with the things that they enjoy. I think we should all just be clear with each other. We should strive to be responsible buyers and sellers! Some people may want less expensive birds and take a longer route to getting their desired results. That should be encouraged and applauded... as long as they are clear about what their goals are. Lavender birds can be rather expensive and when people don't get exactly what they are thinking they are getting it can be upsetting. When you charge a pretty penny (or even a small fee) for a bird I think you have a responsibility to be as forthcoming as possible with your buyer! They should know what they are paying for and it should be worth it!
I would like to encourage lavender silkie breeders to ask these questions of themselves... what ever the answer! Where did your stock came from? What you are breeding currently? What are you goals in your breeding program? This would help us all to organize our thoughts and be able to convey to potential buyers.
Be proud of your stock! Be proud of what your goals are! Get excited about your breeding program! Encourage each other! Breeding chickens can sometimes be a frustrating thing. Let's help each other by taking some of the mystery out of it. Breeding these guys is for the LONG HAUL. Be prepared to work hard for 5 years with little results... DON'T GIVE UP!
Darling Farms wishes you a GREAT DAY!