The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[Leahs Mom]

Anyone had Dominiques? I'm thinking of trying some this spring.

On the hatchery birds - the hatchery birds I have are all 5.5 years old now. They have been very healthy and no problems in any way (yet).

But I really like to purchase from a breeder rather than hatchery just because I like to try to get closer to the real breed.

 

[speckledhen]

I love my salmon faverolle. They are very meek and friendly. I like them. They aren't exactly great layers but their personalities make up for the lack of eggs. Otherwise Ameraucana, which you are familiar with and Easter eggers are decent birds.

I'd be okay trying hatchery EEs or Wellies. They are probably not overbred, so maybe they'd have better longevity than the ones I had originally. And my Brahmas weren't bad, either, but again, the crop issues I've had with one of the hatchery gals and now, these.

Anyone had Dominiques? I'm thinking of trying some this spring.

On the hatchery birds - the hatchery birds I have are all 5.5 years old now. They have been very healthy and no problems in any way (yet).

But I really like to purchase from a breeder rather than hatchery just because I like to try to get closer to the real breed.

No, haven't had any Doms. They are the first American breed, if I recall, and BRs came from them. They are smaller bodied than BRs, overall, and the rose comb is a plus in cold climates.

As far as hatchery birds, they're not all equal. I think I'd avoid Ideal for the most part. I did have one hatchery Buff Orp live to be 6 1/2, but she was broody twice, the only hatchery hen of the originals to take two long breaks, which had to do her some good. Even Caroline, the Brahma, was almost 10, in spite of her crop issues and the nare cysts. The production birds are the ones I'd avoid like the plague, the ones I had the issues with. I loved my breeder quality Buff Orps but the second time I had them from the same breeder, both hens died on me with some kind of issue. Nugget was out of the first hatch from that breeder. She was an awesome broody and did live to 7 1/2. But, again, big birds with penchant for crop issues more than others.
I'd be good getting with Welsummer sexed pullets from a hatchery. Even if their egg color was not the greatest, their type should be what I'm looking for and they are camoflaged well, like the partridge Brahmas.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I get all my hatchery birds from My Pet Chicken, the birds are pretty much the same as those from Meyers, they share space. On average they have been pretty healthy birds, not a lot of problems. They are the only ones I use, so I have no experience with other hatcheries.

My one welsummer was almost 10 when she passed, she was a personal bird. My other two are still going strong at 5 and still laying.

 

[speckledhen]

I get all my hatchery birds from My Pet Chicken, the birds are pretty much the same as those from Meyers, they share space. On average they have been pretty healthy birds, not a lot of problems. They are the only ones I use, so I have no experience with other hatcheries.

My one welsummer was almost 10 when she passed, she was a personal bird. My other two are still going strong at 5 and still laying.

I wonder where My Pet Chicken gets their birds now, which hatchery. They're not a hatchery, as far as I know, but a dropshipper. One local feed store gets theirs from Privett, the other from Mt. Healthy. The store my original flock and subsequent individuals here and there like Xander came from closed, but they got all theirs from Ideal and got them most all year long except the worst of winter. Then, later the owner would take some home, raise them up and charge exhorbitant prices for them. And I reported her store to the state at one point so they closed down for good. I think there is another feed store not far down the road and they get chicks, but I've only been in the store once the entire time I've lived here. I have no idea where they get their chicks.

 

[robhuncor]

I looked in to Campines one year but they are not suggested for the kind of extreme cold we experience here.

Mine don't seem to be bothered at all by the cold here but then I'm sure we don't compare to your winters in Michigan!!

 

[1muttsfan]

Two winters ago we had a 6 week stretch where the temperature stayed below 20 degrees the entire time, and often was much colder. Miserable for man and beast both. You need hardy birds for that kind of weather.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I wonder where My Pet Chicken gets their birds now, which hatchery. They're not a hatchery, as far as I know, but a dropshipper. One local feed store gets theirs from Privett, the other from Mt. Healthy. The store my original flock and subsequent individuals here and there like Xander came from closed, but they got all theirs from Ideal and got them most all year long except the worst of winter. Then, later the owner would take some home, raise them up and charge exhorbitant prices for them. And I reported her store to the state at one point so they closed down for good. I think there is another feed store not far down the road and they get chicks, but I've only been in the store once the entire time I've lived here. I have no idea where they get their chicks.

It was explained to me that My Pet Chicken rents warehouse and incubator space from Meyers hatchery. They originally start as a place you could just get a few birds from. Other places were wanting you to buy 25. My original order from them was my first buff Orpingtons. I still have one hen yet who will soon be 10 years old.

 

[speckledhen]

I thought I'd heard Meyer mentioned in regard to MPC once a few years ago, Lisa, but haven't kept up with that. Since I'd just want sexed pullets from a hatchery, most likely, the larger combs of a Welsummer would not be an issue. And of course, EEs would be like Gypsy and Snow. BUT, I've never ordered birds from a hatchery and had them sent. I can't do it. I'd be getting whatever a feed store could get, but I don't want my name on a list. I see no reason for them to know who they sold to, no reason for them to "follow" the birds to my place.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's okay, I was just mentioning what I use. The local Tractor supply also wants all your information too when you buy their chicks. I did it once and ended up with mostly roosters.

 

[speckledhen]

That's okay, I was just mentioning what I use. The local Tractor supply also wants all your information too when you buy their chicks. I did it once and ended up with mostly roosters.

a lot of folks love My Pet Chicken and I understand why. I'd rather have theirs than anything from TSC. It's just me, that I can't stand the thought of opening a box of possibly dead chicks like some on BYC have done. My personal thing, I guess. I really don't trust the P.O. with live animals. As for TSC, I don't like the way TSC displays their chicks in the stores, though they've been better about keeping the public from handling them in recent years. I may check out the feed stores, especially the one I've never been in when they had chicks, in the spring and see if I can sneak in a few sexed pullets of the less common breeds. It would help if a broody was hatching to coincide with that so I did not have to brood them. And I'd have to get around that "taking names" thing they try to do. I could use the name I was born with, certainly. No one would ever find me by that. And my burner phone #. No way I'd give them my real name and address. I know why they want it, the real reason.