Small Orpingtons

[Folly's place]

Hatchery birds may not be anywhere near breed standard. In my experience, some of the popular breeds will vary a lot from show standards, while some uncommon breed types may be closer to type. It will depend on the hatchery too.
It depends on the selections made in breeding stock. Hatcheries are interested in egg/ chick production, which favors smaller weight hens rather than big fluffy ones.
Show breeders favor birds that look like the ideal, and tend to ignore production qualities, especially egg production.
For example, my one group of purebred Ameraucanas were terrible egg producers, while the EEs I've had from several different hatcheries have been very good. Non-standard and interesting colors, egg color variations, but much nicer for my flock.
If you want SQ birds, go to a (carefully selected) show breeder. If you don't care, enjoy the birds you have! Mary

 

[Rainbowskyes]

Hatchery birds may not e anywhere near breed standard. In my experience, some of the popular breeds will vary a lot from show standards, while some uncommon breed types may be closer to type. It will depend on the hatchery too.
It depends on the selections made in breeding stock. Hatcheries are interested in egg/ chick production, which favors smaller weight hens rather than big fluffy ones.
Show breeders favor birds that look like the ideal, and tend to ignore production qualities, especially egg production.
For example, my one group of purebred Ameraucanas were terrible egg producers, while the EEs I've had from several different hatcheries have been very good. Non-standard and interesting colors, egg color variations, but much nicer for my flock.
If you want SQ birds, go to a (carefully selected) show breeder. If you don't care, enjoy the birds you have! Mary

Thank you for the info. I am very happy with my gals. Interesting to note in future purchases. Was more concerned than anything else about her size, but now, thinking that she is just fine and hopefully she will be a great little layer! I have two Light Sussex from a breeder that are just spectacular in appearance and my Orps and Morans are hatchery hens... So far my Morans are the only ones producing and producing well at that!

 

[Folly's place]

BTW, I have 'Jersey Giant' hens from a hatchery, and they are "Jersey Midgets"! Nice birds, no issues, can get up on roosts easily (unlike some huge JGs), but easily mistaken for Australorps. If I wanted JGs that met the standard, I'd get SQ birds from a show breeder. Mary

 

[chickengeorgeto]

If they are hatchery birds they will never be as big and fluffy as those from a breeder's lines....

If you like fried feathers or are mainly looking at your hens' conformation then by all means buy your beginning stock from a chicken breeder who often concentrates on meaningless conformation issues. You are more likely however to get healthier and better adapted hens for certain purposes (like egg production) if you buy your beginning stock from a hatchery. The greater number of birds in a hatchery's laying flock will also result in a deeper gene pool, meaning less inbreeding.