Most of my birds come from My Pet Chicken. I have in the past gotten some birds from a local guy who breeds for 4H shows. His birds are gorgeous but mostly worthless, and I found them to be very short lived and not very hardy.I guess I "should" ask if those of you that had good experiences with them got them from breeder or from large hatchery?
And... @oldhenlikesdogs
The Marans have feathered feet, yes? I was all set at one point to put in a few Marans but I'm gun-shy on feathered feet. I think you have a couple breeds that are feathered. Here's my concern. I want my birds to be able to range without damaging their feet and ranging can be hard of the feet. I've "heard" that feather-footed feet can have problems with broken, bleeding feather shafts, etc. Your thoughts appreciated.
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I now prefer hatchery birds because they do seem more diverse and healthy as well as producing better and not as broody. I like a few broody hens but not lots of them. Some of my hatchery breeds still go broody.
I haven't had any troubles with feathered footed birds. We experience a full range of weather throughout the year, from cold, muddy and dry. I have read of people having troubles with mud, but I haven't seen any problems like that, so perhaps it's a certain soil type. I have cochins, both bantam and standard, salmon faverolle, bantam Brahma, a blue copper Maran, and d'uccle, which come a little closer to problems due to their foot feathers being more stiff and long, but even they have done fine. I have never had any with scaly leg mites, nor do I clean my birds. All my breeds get out and hustle up some of their grub during the summer.
My Pet Chicken now carries lots of various hatching eggs they claim are from good stock. I'm gonna try some heritage Orpington this year from them and see what they end up like.