Welsummer Question

[Lensters]

I'm somewhat new to chickens but not to being an animal breeder. I started chickens with some RIR laying hens and then dove in for the money selling backyard layers. However, I've been a breeder of show rabbits for years and have shown llamas in the past and I can tell you that show animals are money pits. Every time I start with a new animal, I want to make a high quality yet productive animal but nobody else ever has both in mind. However, I'm determined that is what I'm going to do with chickens. I have decided not to show for biosecurity reasons, however, I do have a copy of the APA SOP on hand.

Among my friends there is an owner of a commercial hatchery that does 500K meat chicks a week, an APA judge, a 4-H poultry leader, a FFA leader who won state poultry judging, a few "backyarders" and I'm getting to know the state poultry extension agent. My son has also placed in FFA poultry judging the last two year, so, I get all points of view on this topic.

Now I have four breeding pens in my well insulated, very well ventilated, and somewhat climate controlled barn (the chickens basically kicked out freeloading show rabbits to a basic carport). I just bought a trio of Welsummers to start a pen of them and to create American Welbars (that's how I came across this thread). I will try to make quality and productive birds, however if they don't make me money, then I'll just eat them.

So I guess that my point is that there are all types of people breeding animals and as long as it is done responsibly then you shouldn't look down at people who have different goals.

My rabbit soup is ready so I'm going to quit rambling and get off my soapbox while you all flame away.

 

[EweSheep]

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

I'm with you, it is best if any animal is also productive.

I'm looking for tri-purpose breeds/flocks/lines.
Reasonably Good for Meat
Reasonably Good for Eggs
Reasonably Matching the Description of the Breed

Don't you wish there was a contest that measured all three?

The Heritage/Homestead Triathilon.

 

[McSpin]

Quote:
No, and you never will see that. People aren't that dumb. To understand their feelings you'd have to carefully look at their expressions and the emotions they can't hide as well, when they win. Get into a subtle conversation about judging or their competition and you can ferret out their true feelings. If you're expecting to see someone who wants to win to go around yelling like a kid, then it's no wonder you misinterpreted their desires.

 

[CountryMom]

Quote:
Followed this thread and have to agree. Not saying that show breeders look down on production breeders, but I have had this feeling in other threads. It is all a matter of goals.

I see chickens as productive farm animals. I don't care about showing or breeding to show. I also feel the same about our cattle. And as for our horses, they are bred for performance and couldn't win a halter award to save their lives. It is all in the goals. So that being said, if these Welsummers of mine don't get their act in gear and start producing once we get a break from the 107 or more temps, then they will go also. No matter how nice they are. Kind of like that heifer that doesn't produce every year or never does. Off to the sale. Or that horse that cannot perform what we need, then it is sold for other purposes.

Being an Show breeder and exhibitor of cavies (guinea pigs) I can identify with the idea of someone wanting to win just to win. I see many a family buy their kids what I call ringers. Pigs that have been either coated or grown out by other breeders that are fantastic and ready to put on the table without any more work only to beat the ones that have bred and raised their own pigs. And having had my children have this happen to them over and over, they now find more pride in winning with stock that they bred and raised. So it isn't about the win, but about the pride in accomplishing the win. The ribbons and such aren't worth a salt to them. They look for those "legs" that they can put on their pedigrees and strive for that registered pig they can Grand Champion with the American Rabbit Breeders Association.

And we see that in the cutting world also. When a kid and their family wants to be in a certain spot in standings and win the championship or reserve, then the parents works a deal with another horse owner of Open calibur and puts their child on it. The child holds on for dear life and may win at first helping them add points to their standing. When in reality the kid in the position for getting there by hard work on their own horse that has hauled all year to be where they are gets kind of tiring. Their is more of a sense of accomplishment and meaning behind that kid's winnings or standings period. You see it in every show I am sure and as upsetting as it is, it will always be there. And those breeders/exhibitors/competitors that do the work know the difference even if the said person isn't running around yelling "see what I won!"

 

[JoAnn_WI_4-H_Mom]

The worst thing that can happen to a young person is to win their first race.

I want the boys to work for their wins so they mean something, but we have to have somewhat decent stock to start with.

I can't see how I am going to make mahogany Speckled Sussex out of dark brown birds.

So yes, we are looking to buy better stock, but not a "ringer".