Starting Breeding Flock

[BrahmaBaby]

Hello! I am thinking about starting a bantam breeding flock to breed for the standard of perfection and hopefully show stock eventually. If anyone has tips, articles to help me learn, or a breed I should start with that would be greatly appreciated! Feel free to bombard me with info!!

I might be a little picky but I’d like a breed that looks a little unique, not just leghorns. I’ve always loved modern game bantams, however I would not be willing to dub the cockerels myself so they might be out.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

I would research what show breeders you have in your area first to see if you'll be competing with anyone, or if perhaps they might have a breed they're selling that you could buy hatching eggs or chicks from.

For example, we raise/breed show quality silkies, and there's nobody else raising show quality silkies within an hour from us. I've had someone drive as far as five hours to buy some chicks. Many come from two-three hours away.

This is a good site to see if there's any sellers listed here, or swaps in your area you could go to and speak with other breeders. https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/

 

[BrahmaBaby]

Hi,

I would research what show breeders you have in your area first to see if you'll be competing with anyone, or if perhaps they might have a breed they're selling that you could buy hatching eggs or chicks from.

For example, we raise/breed show quality silkies, and there's nobody else raising show quality silkies within an hour from us. I've had someone drive as far as five hours to buy some chicks. Many come from two-three hours away.

This is a good site to see if there's any sellers listed here, or swaps in your area you could go to and speak with other breeders. https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/

Thank you! I’ve done some looking around on that site but it seems there’s nobody nearby me or even in my state that I’ve found. I would prefer to start from a pair or trio but would hatching eggs work too?

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

For Modern game bantams, you could just show the females, and cockerels don't need to be dubbed

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

I breed them. I usually just show the cockerels, and my rooster I bought dubbed. One of these days I'm gonna suck it up and dub though...

 

[BrahmaBaby]

I breed them. I usually just show the cockerels, and my rooster I bought dubbed. One of these days I'm gonna suck it up and dub though...

Haha good luck when you do!

What do you do with the extra birds you don’t keep for breeding or showing?

Would I be able to sell any cockerels if they aren’t dubbed?

 

[BrahmaBaby]

Also, I’ve read that cold climates should not have breeds with single combs unless they give supplemental heat. I have also looked into white American seramas….should I cross that off or will they likely be fine?

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

Also, I’ve read that cold climates should not have breeds with single combs unless they give supplemental heat. I have also looked into white American seramas….should I cross that off or will they likely be fine?

If you use heat you would be fine.

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

If you use heat you would be fine.

Or if you have a well insulated building.

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

What do you do with the extra birds you don’t keep for breeding or showing?

Depends, but I generally just keep them as pets. They are so small the feed bill doesn't matter.