Starting to Evaluate Breeders for Spring

[3KillerBs]

How do you bring in new genetics? I know of 3 hatcheries that have Blue Australorp off the top of my head… Welp, Ideal & Mt Healthy. Have you stayed w the same group, or introduced new genetics just out of curiosity? Eventually I hope to breed chickens to sell in my area. Retirement can’t come soon enough!

I'm not at the point of needing new genetics. My birds all came from Welp.

At this point I'm starting to breed Rameses to his daughters and, by spring, a couple of his granddaughters. I'm planning on using one or more of his sons over the next year or so.

Probably next fall or winter I should think about an unrelated rooster -- *maybe* show-quality if I can get one on my budget (show breeder's cull? Eggs? ???). At that point maybe even a Black if I have a number of Splash hens in the flock so I don't lose the blue.

If I can't get a show-quality male, I'll probably order from Ideal, because I found 25 birds at once from Welp a bit much to handle in my current circumstances.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

First go by head shape and size. The drawing on right is called crow head and not what you want. The drawing on the left is what you're going for and a thick head. The size and thickness of the head is a strong indication of overall skeleton of bird. Some old time breeders would start culling birds at hatch just by head size. Fat heads is just one trait to evaluate birds on. Go through the birds with this then go through what's left with another evaluation of another trait.

 

[3KillerBs]

First go by head shape and size. The drawing on right is called crow head and not what you want. The drawing on the left is what you're going for and a thick head. The size and thickness of the head is a strong indication of overall skeleton of bird. Some old time breeders would start culling birds at hatch just by head size. Fat heads is just one trait to evaluate birds on. Go through the birds with this then go through what's left with another evaluation of another trait.

Thank you. That's a really USEFUL piece of information.

I like that sort of diagram that makes things clear for people who are learning.

 

[NanaK]

Following

 

[Sally PB]

Thank you. That's a really USEFUL piece of information.

I like that sort of diagram that makes things clear for people who are learning.

Yes! @Egghead_Jr, thanks for posting that! Very useful info.

 

[SourRoses]

The size and thickness of the head is a strong indication of overall skeleton of bird.

That is so helpful!
I have a question about this though. I read that thinner bones made for a more open pelvis, thus bigger eggs. So, with Leghorns for instance, thinner legs are an important selection criteria.

If the skull indicates overall skeletal thickness, would selecting for bigger / wider skulls accidentally lead to smaller eggs?

 

[sdm111]

I really like the look of Dark Beauty. Her lacing continues up her neck whereas the darker girls seem to be losing it. Or is that something particular to first years?

Anywho, I totally get what you mean about the standards. And I am one who prefers to learn by reading. But a written description is much harder to translate into a mental image of the perfect bird. Some things make easy sense, such as arrow shaped lacing being undesirable.
But the blah blah about angles and depth of color is really only making sense to the person that wrote it.
I'm pretty sure even the judges are just making educated guesses (note: anytime someone holds up how long they've been doing a thing it's a pretty sure bet it's more of an art than a science).
I get a kick out of internet breeder groups talking about this or that bird being "leggy"... But there are no measurements to be found. That's why people are generally not confident enough to present example pictures of perfect specimens. Because the rules can shift depending on who's looking at the bird.

Anyway, enough of my opinion. I'll just close with my personal conclusion (take it or leave it)...
The human eye is naturally attuned to symmetry. It's how we choose our mates (usually) and build structures and all sorts of stuff.
I found that natural inclination helpful when I was working on our car with absolutely zero mechanical experience (complete success!). Other people made it, so if something looks "off", the designers would likely agree.

Same thing with birds. Whoever got hold of the power to dictate what a breed should look like was probably looking for symmetry from all the different angles. So you probably, deep down, have a better idea of what birds "seem right" than internet strangers looking at static images in only one lighting, pose, and moment in time.

This is probably the opposite of helpful

That's the exact reason you judge or breed to the standard and not each other. The standard will never change. And as you said people view things subjectively. I think this is pretty you think that is. Just because I think ones prettier than yours if yours meets the standard then yours is a better example of the breed. Just like dog judging. 2 dogs come out (pick your breed) one is viewed as prettier but if the other had the head type, shoulder width, even non physical characteristics like gate it wins over the other.

 

[3KillerBs]

That's the exact reason you judge or breed to the standard and not each other. The standard will never change. And as you said people view things subjectively. I think this is pretty you think that is. Just because I think ones prettier than yours if yours meets the standard then yours is a better example of the breed. Just like dog judging. 2 dogs come out (pick your breed) one is viewed as prettier but if the other had the head type, shoulder width, even non physical characteristics like gate it wins over the other.

I really wish I could find good photos of birds who are excellent examples of the breed in order to know what my birds ought to look like.

 

[NanaK]

Just did a bit of googling. Have you seen this? Forgive me if you have.

This site has a lot of ads but an interesting article about how to choose Australorp breeders. It is written by an APA Judge and Grand Master Exhibitor of Australorps named Dan Castle.
https://www.poultryshowcentral.com/Culling_Australorps.html

He is listed on the APA list of Judges and GM Exhibitors list here.
https://amerpoultryassn.com/grand-master-exhibitor/

He also has a facebook page here.
https://www.facebook.com/castle.poultry/

Lookie and all the pretty Australorps!

 

[NanaK]

Video clips of his possible breeder selections on the fb page.