Silkie thread!

Quote: Having a known name in the lineage is no guarantee on the birds being better quality than are birds of unknown lineage. On a regular basis you hear of people selling birds that may be generations away from the ones bred by the named breeder, but still being sold with the big name attached. And the big name breeders get very annoyed. And some breeders therefore make a point of not listing their bird sources when they are the ones making the breeding decisions.

A lot is really how it is stated, and the intent. If the intent is to credit the named breeder with a fantastic bird you hatched, they will likely smile; if the intent is to trade on the name and make money selling "show quality hatching eggs," they will growl and gnash their teeth.

When I give lineage, I may state what breeders I have purchased birds from in the past, but most of the time that is only in general discussion, and it is never to say that my birds are from ... unless a specific bird is indeed bred by that breeder. I can certainly give credit to the breeders who have supplied my flock, but I cannot claim their fame; it isn't mine.

As an example, here is how I refer to my sebastapols: Bliz came from a friend's flock that was originally from Metzger, a number of generations ago. Nibbles came from an egg from a neighbor's flock that were purchased as goslings from Holderead's. If Nibbles is indeed a young gander, then any eggs they hatch together will be even more convoluted to describe, but it is honest. If I were to bring in more lines (no plans to) and keep breeding the best together for several years, at some point I would stop mentioning their background as they would have become my lines as the breeding decisions (for good or bad) would have been mine.
 
Quote: I probably have 40, and so am I!
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Well I bit the bullet and payed 30.99 for organic feed. I couldn't find grower,they only had layer or chick starter. The name brand is Payback it's the only organic feed I can find here.
I got the layer pellets ( no crumbles available ). I mixed it with warm water added a little olive oil and ACV, chopped grapes and a touch of cottage cheese like I always do with their nutrena chick starter that they can't hardly wait for and gobble right up. I set he new great GMO free organic stuff down they slowly peck a few times then walk away looking at me for something else, I'm so bummed they don't like it! Now what to do go back and buy the nasty GMO stuff so they eat it?
Is chick starter and grower the same thing? The bag of nutrena I had said both on it? Does anybody know of any purina or nutrena feeds that are GMO free? That's what we get the most here and I may be able to have them order it. If my chickens will eat it.
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Not sure what to do now, hated paying that much and now they won't eat it. I don't want GMO eggs.
Types of feed are starter, starter/grower, grower, flock raiser, layer, etc. Ever brand is a bit different on the details, but a starter/grower is meant to last through the whole time until adulthood, whereas a starter is followed by a grower, then by adult food.

They keep changing the requirements for organic, so I don't know if organic still allows GMO grains or not. I know that Integrifeeds (king-brand.com) has a line of "natural" feeds that specifically excludes GMO products; however, it is not "organic." IMO, it is far better. I do not/will not use organic because chickens are not vegetarian, and I feel that a vegetarian diet is detrimental to them.
 
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would it be reccomended to feed flock raiser to silkies? i bought a 25 pd bag for my amerucana, but im selling her. should i just keep them on the chick grower even as adults?
Mix the two together to use up the bag (assuming that they are no longer chicks). With the current prices, a lot of my birds are on a flock raiser.
 
Having a known name in the lineage is no guarantee on the birds being better quality than are birds of unknown lineage.  On a regular basis you hear of people selling birds that may be generations away from the ones bred by the named breeder, but still being sold with the big name attached.  And the big name breeders get very annoyed.  And some breeders therefore make a point of not listing their bird sources when they are the ones making the breeding decisions.

A lot is really how it is stated, and the intent.  If the intent is to credit the named breeder with a fantastic bird you hatched, they will likely smile; if the intent is to trade on the name and make money selling "show quality hatching eggs," they will growl and gnash their teeth.

When I give lineage, I may state what breeders I have purchased birds from in the past, but most of the time that is only in general discussion, and it is never to say that my birds are from ... unless a specific bird is indeed bred by that breeder.  I can certainly give credit to the breeders who have supplied my flock, but I cannot claim their fame; it isn't mine.

As an example, here is how I refer to my sebastapols:  Bliz came from a friend's flock that was originally from Metzger, a number of generations ago.   Nibbles came from an egg from a neighbor's flock that were purchased as goslings from Holderead's.  If Nibbles is indeed a young gander, then any eggs they hatch together will be even more convoluted to describe, but it is honest.  If I were to bring in more lines (no plans to) and keep breeding the best together for several years, at some point I would stop mentioning their background as they would have become my lines as the breeding decisions (for good or bad) would have been mine. 
Definitely agree Sonoran. I see a lot of people doing this with Catdance. You can't guarantee quality of chicks (or eggs). Don't think I've ever said where I got my silkies. Doesn't really matter - and they were not from serious breeders. If I bought an adult showable bird - I would definitely be praising their names with them. Only if they were good. I just think how I'd feel if it were done to me..

I am always praising the breeder of my geese though :D He's got some of the best Toulouse in the country.
 

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