Turning Hatchery Chickens into Heritage Breeds (New Hampshires)

[Lotsapaints]

Quote:
Last year I bought some of those birds from Cackle paid extra for pullets my suggestion is to save your money they were very pinched in the tail and no matter what I fed them they were always feather picking and several prolapsed. I raised some chicks from them many had split wings......I felt lucky when I took them to the auction and got 10.00 each for them....

 

[OSUman]

Just find a breeder, there is a group of people reorganizing the New Hampshire Breeders Club of America and they have a Yahoo group so you could check on there. I know Doug Akers was selling chicks from his stock (they are outstanding) this spring. Quality birds cost, and it will take you a long time and alot more money to get the birds to standard from hatchery stock.

 

[gjensen]

All of that being said and true, I want to offer a point for consideration. There is nothing wrong with thinking "out side of the box" so to speak. I am not and will not dispute the points made. I would agree that you have recieved the best advice. Still, genetic diversity is important for any breed's stability. There would not be so many breeds and strains of breeds if everyone went in the same direction. The variety and diversity is a good thing. In my life experiences outside of poultry I find when we all go the same way, we tend to all go the wrong way. Many breeds could use the development or restoration of an additional strain. It would take an extraordinary effort and alot of money though. Also alot of skill.

 

[saladin]

I forgot to mention Urch/Turnlund Hatchery. I'm not a New Hampshire person; but I do know that Urch Hatchery has some of the best Black Javas in the country. Urch is the only person ever to beat Monte Bowen's Black Javas. I've seen some of the Black Javas on the Java thread and I'd say that Urch's Javas are better than 99% of those pictured from individual breeders. Urch also has excellent Turkeys.

I'm not a hatchery person either, but they serve an important function. And, some of their stock (depends on the hatchery and the breed) is not only good but excellent (ie. Urch's Black Javas).

 

[Sparklee]

Thanks for all the replies and advice.

I guess I should have mentioned that I'm three years into a batch of New Hampshires already from the hatchery stock. I was just out looking at a batch of juveniles the other day and realized that I had a striking pullet like no other I've hatched out before. I was a little shocked, though I had been working on getting the pullets' tail more black with this spring's hatches, but that still doesn't account for her coloring.

Again, thanks for all the replies. I appreciate all the valuable information.

And Lotsapaints, I'm glad I bought my birds a few years before you did. Originally, I got a few pinched tails, but have been working on that and have lots of breadth across there now for the most part. That was one of the first things I started working on. Never a prolapse here. I'm sorry you've had any. As for the feather picking, some that were over used by one of the cocks have continued to preen that area bare themselves and now need aprons. But it's just two and partially my fault since I should have been paying better attention. If they were real problems, then I'd have more birds with feather picking and it would extend to the other breed also. I've never seen a split wing. If I'd heard your description before I bought, I would never order from them. I've heard they aren't all that big anymore either. Mine have very good size, but then I haven't had the scale out there.