Should i change hatchery?Size of breeds considerably smaller.

[Amer]

In general I do have a problem with changing to a 16% layer feed when the birds are 16 weeks or a bit older, before they reach adult sizes. Not a good choice if actual maturity and longevity matters. Commercial 'egg factories' don't care, their birds are all gone before two years of age anyway.
mary

Now that it is breeding season (I have bantams and Anconas) I feed layer. I prefer 18 percent protein layer feed.
Except to the chicks I have just hatched which get chick feed.
My youngest are 5 months old. Obviously its not ideal for the Delawares which I am raising for meat, but it is more inexpensive. Until two weeks ago, I fed all flock or chick feed but considering my number of birds, it is simpler to buy only two varieties of feed now that the and not three.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

@Folly's place I've not had health issues with any of the standard bred stock I've worked with. I never feed less than 20% protein. Dual purpose birds do require more than layer breeds. With that and any of the stock I've had they all produce five eggs per week. The Silver Penciled Rocks would brood a tremendous amount so rarely did you actually get the 5 eggs per bird. The other lack in people's aspiration for eggs is how long some of the fancier varieties will take to come into lay. My Blue Laced Red Wyandotte will not come into lay before winter if hatched in April.

All in all, that average of a little better than one egg per bird more a person gets with hatchery stock just isn't worth it to me. It just takes more time to start getting them. The various Plymouth Rocks I've had took 26 weeks and I've yet to determine the Wyandotte time as I don't supplement light in winter. If I didn't have the Rocks when obtaining them I'd not have had eggs until the following spring! Back when I had hatchery stock finding a decent cock bird that didn't attack children was tiresome. I've never had an ill behaved standard bred cock.

 

[Amer]

Now that it is breeding season (I have bantams and Anconas) I feed layer. I prefer 18 percent protein layer feed.
Except to the chicks I have just hatched which get chick feed.
My youngest are 5 months old. Obviously its not ideal for the Delawares which I am raising for meat, but it is more inexpensive. Until two weeks ago, I fed all flock or chick feed but considering my number of birds, it is simpler to buy only two varieties of feed now that the and not three.

I would agree that dual purpose breeds require more than layer, probably All-Flock pellet, however.

 

[3KillerBs]

but it is more inexpensive.

Not necessarily.

I've occasionally had to buy a bag of layer in a emergency and while it is cheaper per pound, I find that the bag lasts less time -- as if they eat more feed to make up for the lower protein.

Instead of 2, 50# bags lasting 2 weeks, 2 50# bags last 10-12 days.

 

[Mamagirl3]

Many hatchery birds are smaller than their breed standard, and there are reasons.
Hatcheries are motivated to have hens who are good egg producers, and most likely select breeders for that trait. High egg production tends to run with smaller body size, so that's a factor. Also, in any group of a specific breed, there will be birds very large, the right size, and very small, compared to that breed standard. Show people care, hatcheries, not so much. The most popular breed/ color varieties seem most affected by this, in my experience.
The barred Plymouth Rocks we got from MMcM years ago were on the small size, and the Jersey Giants varied by 30% at least in mature weights. The buff Plymouth Rocks we had from MMcM a couple of years later were right within their breed standard, wonderful. A much less popular variety, and I thought that might be why. Maybe.
We've been happy with our Cackle birds, although again we tend to not order the most popular types.
Mary

Thank you so very much for taking the time to give me such a detailed reply! It helps me tremendously! Have a great day.

 

[Ponyiqandhens2]

I know Meyers says their heritage breeds,especially the big ones like Light Brahma, orpington, sussex, jersey giants can take up to 18 months to reach their full size

 

[Mamagirl3]

That is not the hatchery we ordered from, but thank you so very much for that info!! It gives me hope that they may still grow to size! All the cautions we were given was that the roo wouldnt reach full size until 18 months... but he seems to be on track or maybe a little ahead if he will continue to grow. From top of head (not including comb) to feet he is 18.6 inches. And 12lbs. For 11 months he looks big to us! If i lay his foot on my hand .. it is larger with the tips of his toes past the tips of my fingers. The main pads part of his foot is the size of my palm! Most people that see him say WOW that is a big rooster! Hahaha And HE THINKS HE IS BIG TOO, EVEN IF JUST IN ATTITUDE! hahaha.

Thank you for your info!

 

[SourRoses]

Unless you are interested in showing your birds, it doesn't matter. For dual purpose birds, if you plan to eat some of them (cockerels, mostly) it might matter. For a small group of hens as pets and for eggs, hatchery birds may do much better than show bird lines selected for looks, not production.
Mary

Size definitely matters. Trending smaller and smaller is not a good thing.
Say the OP wants to hatch chicks, or rehomes some birds to other people.
Say those people want to breed, and they think from pictures the traits meet SOP, without seeing a real example for size comparison. That's setting folks up for disappointment and one way breeds get dragged down.

I don't order from hatcheries anymore. Stock from breeders is much better.

 

[Allsfairinloveandbugs]

@Mamagirl3 , I see you are in Missouri. By any chance did your birds come from Estes hatchery? If so, I have some feedback from my experience with them.

 

[Mamagirl3]

Size definitely matters. Trending smaller and smaller is not a good thing.
Say the OP wants to hatch chicks, or rehomes some birds to other people.
Say those people want to breed, and they think from pictures the traits meet SOP, without seeing a real example for size comparison. That's setting folks up for disappointment and one way breeds get dragged down.

I don't order from hatcheries anymore. Stock from breeders is much better.

Others have suggested that as well... but i cant find breeders anywhere near me. 2 we saw said breeders and hatchery...on the same sign.
Found 1 fella about 2 hours south of us but he bred and raised fighting cocks.
Thank you so very much for your response!