Texas

[MadieChic]

Starfire and OrumPoultry are correct about the differences between hatchery/breeders.  For people that just want backyard laying hens/pets, hatchery/feed store chickens are usually fine.  Most people can't tell the difference between a hatchery bird and a standard bred bird from a reputable breeder unless the birds are side by side and then they can see some of the differences.  But most people only see the color of the feathers until their eye gets trained to all the other characteristics of the breed.

I know people that only want chickens for backyard pets and eggs, but because they feel strongly about where they get birds from, they will pay the extra money that it usually costs to get chickens from a breeder.  Others just want something that is easily replaced if they were to die - and they are happy with hatchery/feed store/backyard breeder chickens.  I have some friends that breed "pretty chickens", but they don't breed to the SOP, but they still have a lot of people that want their pretty colored chickens.

It really depends on what you're looking for, what your goals are for your flock.  So far, I've only sold chickens that did not make the cut for my breeding program, but the buyer was looking for "nice looking birds" and so it didn't matter that the birds weren't "show quality".  Having decent looking Javas was what she wanted, she wasn't planning on breeding or showing, so it was a win-win for both of us.

And that is another thing - even if a person buys from someone that breeds "show birds" - that does NOT mean the chickens you buy are "show quality".  For one, if there isn't a lot of competition in a show, a poor specimen can still win first place.  And you cannot buy hatching eggs, chicks, or juveniles and have them  "show quality" chickens.  Chicken genetics is complicated and in order to buy show quality birds, the birds have to be pretty much mature - which is usually at least a year old - to see how everything comes together and how closely they match the ideal bird described in the Standard of Perfection (SOP).  When you buy anything but a mature bird - you may or may not end up with show quality specimens by the time they are grown.  They may be pretty colored, but there is a difference between a pretty chicken, and a chicken that meets most of the criteria for the SOP for their breed.

If you decide what your goals are for your flock, that will help you decide where you will want to go for obtaining your chickens. 

I am learning about the breeds I like, I want to focus on rare breeds. I do have some strictly for production, but am fascinated by the showing and breeding aspect of it. We used to breed and show AKC Shelties with some top stock from very reputable Sheltie folks and we loved it.

 

[Starfire669]

Just north of you, new Braunfels. I have a few that are 6 weeks, and a few that are 3 weeks. So you wouldn't have to feed them but for another 2 months or so? I don't even know the right age for processing? Now, rabbits and cattle, different story.

How do you know they are Roos? 3 weeks of age seems young to have a positive ID on gender. Did you vent sex them?

 

[bnjrob]

I am learning about the breeds I like, I want to focus on rare breeds. I do have some strictly for production, but am fascinated by the showing and breeding aspect of it. We used to breed and show AKC Shelties with some top stock from very reputable Sheltie folks and we loved it.

The rare breeds do need more serious breeders, that's for sure. We work with Javas and while there are getting to be more "keepers" of Javas, most people aren't doing any serious breeding with them to keep the best genetic traits alive for the future. If you haven't already, get your copy of the SOP from the APA - it has the Standards for all the poultry breeds plus a lot of other good information for breeding/showing in it. The Livestock Conservancy also has good info on examining your birds for other aspects - like looking at pelvic width, keel depth, etc - which also helps when you're breeding to the SOP and showing.

 

[showbarnmom]

How do you know they are Roos? 3 weeks of age seems young to have a positive ID on gender. Did you vent sex them?

I have them sexed by a breeder friend of mine. He's 90% right most of the time. Some of them I'm not sure on, but have them marked as Roos. A nicer surprise lol. I only have two coops, so not a ton of space. I'm going to be building a new hoop coop that I'm going to divide into two pens for growing out.

 

[Starfire669]

I have them sexed by a breeder friend of mine. He's 90% right most of the time. Some of them I'm not sure on, but have them marked as Roos. A nicer surprise lol. I only have two coops, so not a ton of space. I'm going to be building a new hoop coop that I'm going to divide into two pens for growing out.

Maybe after my 2nd coop I can get some of them from you, but not right now. I am picking up 5 ducks Friday or Monday, which will throw my flock into disorder lol.

 

[MadieChic]

The rare breeds do need more serious breeders, that's for sure.  We work with Javas and while there are getting to be more "keepers" of Javas, most people aren't doing any serious breeding with them to keep the best genetic traits alive for the future.  If you haven't already, get your copy of the SOP from the APA - it has the Standards for all the poultry breeds plus a lot of other good information for breeding/showing in it.  The Livestock Conservancy also has good info on examining your birds for other aspects - like looking at pelvic width, keel depth, etc - which also helps when you're breeding to the SOP and showing. 

I will definitely research The Livestock Conservancy. So far, I've started with the breed clubs.
I will say that chicken math is much scarier than Sheltie math...and I won't even say how many Shelties we had at any given time.
But I just love my chickens!

 

[showbarnmom]

Maybe after my 2nd coop I can get some of them from you, but not right now. I am picking up 5 ducks Friday or Monday, which will throw my flock into disorder lol.

I begged husband for an incubator. Just had to have one I said. I'm going to breed chicks I said.

I forgot how much I really hate chicks in the house, but I realllyyyyy love hatching lol. I am sure I would have better luck selling more if it wasn't such a specialized breeding.

 

[Starfire669]

I begged husband for an incubator. Just had to have one I said. I'm going to breed chicks I said.

I forgot how much I really hate chicks in the house, but I realllyyyyy love hatching lol. I am sure I would have better luck selling more if it wasn't such a specialized breeding.

You sell pullets?

 

[showbarnmom]

You sell pullets?

Yup smooth and frizzled Easter Eggers. <3 my curly fuzzy chickens

 

[Starfire669]

How much are your pullets?