The Wyandotte Thread

[Bill Matthews]

TO delisha...I would like to know what you base the statement that almost all hatchery Wyandottes are Leghorn Crosses on ....Crossing Leghorns and Wyandottes makes no sense other than to boost egg production and, more likely, fertility rates...The same result can be obtained by crossing with other breeds closer to Wyandotte size and shape.....I have gotten Wyandottes from the more reliable hatcheries such as McMurray, Cackle, and Meyer....McMurray and Cackle have been in business way too long to do anything this obvious and shoddy. Their Wyandottes are DEFINITELY NOT LEGHORN CROSSES.... I have no way of knowing what your experience with hatcheries has been, so the common sense rule that you may, and in all probability do, know something I don't applies here....Not saying it does not happen; just asking WHO does it ?..... I have noticed that many hatchery breeds have gotten smaller, thinner, and less standard than the ones from 1950's and early 1960's. I think this is due to gene pool degradation within the strains rather than from intentional crossing with Leghorns. There is a lack of uniformity in hatchery stock; some terrible, some surprisingly good..THIS IS IN NO WAY MEANT TO BE RUDE, ARGUMENTATIVE, NOR BADGERING..Just would like to know the facts...Your Silver Laced Wyandottes are beautiful..You must be really proud of them...Take care and God Bless...

 

[delisha]

Bill,

You make a valid point, and I do not have concrete proof they use leghorns anymore. It is in the history of increased production a long time ago. I do not know the thousands of hatchery's out there. I have no contact with them. My opinion is based on history, reading, and experience.

Hatchery are in business to breed chicks. They need the eggs. They can't wait 9 months to have a bird start producing. They produce chicks that represent the breed. It makes bad financial sense to wait 6-9 months for an egg. Hatchery's serve a vital purpose. With out them most people would not have chickens. If you read the history of hatchery's and how they increase production it is quite educational. I will post a few examples and I am sure you can find more. I urge you to contact all the hatchery's and ask them for the history of production and how they get a specific breed of chicken that should weigh 9 lbs and start producing at 9 months to produce at 16 weeks and weigh 5lbs. I would love to hear about your results! It would be very educational and I am sure many people would love the additional knowledge.

These are all good reading.
There are also many books available that tell you about the history of hatchery's.



http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/ag101/printpoultry.html
http://www.homesteadingtoday.com/livestock-forums/poultry/451470-why-not-buy-hatcheries.html
http://www.chickhatchery.com/FAQ.html#five
http://www.nationalchickencouncil.org/about-the-industry/history/
http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/business-economy/poultry

 

[Bill Matthews]

TO delisha..Thank you very much for the reply and links to more info.....You are very knowledgeable, and your Wyandottes attest to your skill as a breeder....Much of the issue of dissatisfaction with hatchery chickens comes from false expectations...People see pictures of ideal chickens and order a breed not realizing that quality is variable and not uniform...Hatchery breeds have been commercialized and become degraded since the peak years from 1930-1955....Intensive selection for egg production has changed the breed types away from the show standards...Only one more observation: Some of the top hatcheries charge very high prices for their chicks and DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE TOP EGG PRODUCTION TO MAKE A GOOD PROFIT...McMurray for example...DNA testing would settle the issue for good...Take care and be well..

 

[ki4got]

TO delisha..Thank you very much for the reply and links to more info.....You are very knowledgeable, and your Wyandottes attest to your skill as a breeder....Much of the issue of dissatisfaction with hatchery chickens comes from false expectations...People see pictures of ideal chickens and order a breed not realizing that quality is variable and not uniform...Hatchery breeds have been commercialized and become degraded since the peak years from 1930-1955....Intensive selection for egg production has changed the breed types away from the show standards...Only one more observation: Some of the top hatcheries charge very high prices for their chicks and DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE TOP EGG PRODUCTION TO MAKE A GOOD PROFIT...McMurray for example...DNA testing would settle the issue for good...Take care and be well..

some of the hatcheries that charge higher prices, also do not breed their own birds, but contract out to other breeders who can hatch sufficient numbers to fill the orders.

I don't remember which hatchery specifically, but their 'show quality' chicks are directly from duane urch's stock, not hatchery raised at all. FWIW, it's less expensive to order directly from him. His Dorkings are very nice, but I have no experience with any of his other breeds.

 

[jockeyeba]

I took better pictures..

 

[gallito1982]

which breed of chickens is this?

and also the breed! rose combs vary widely between breeds. I think the Wyandotte has the smallest and finest of the rose combs... this is a pic from Yellow House Farm's white dorkings for comparison

 

[gladahmae]

if you read the caption, is says they are white dorkings. this picture was used as a comparison for the variation if rose combs per breed standard.....that pic is to illustrate how a dorking's ideal rose comb is very different from an ideal wyandotte rose comb.

 

[gallito1982]

Yeah I noticed that after I post the question, sorry about that

 

[gladahmae]

no worries! I got distracted and had intended to add some smiley faces so my post wouldn't come across as pithy, but then I got on the phone with my mother while typing.

I swear, if my brain weren't stuck in my skull it would be lying on the floor somewhere.

 

[Bill Matthews]

TO: kj4got...I believe you are referring to Stromberg's..... ....My references to Wyandotte - Leghorn crossing was about the hatcheries such as McMurray, Cackle, Meyer, Ideal etc, and not the internet sellers such as My Pet Chicken....Take Care and Be Well..