What are differences between buying from a hatchery versus a breeder?

[Omniskies]

I get my information on a local level from people who show (at a local and regional or higher level). A couple of years ago I went on a show-quality-only kick and bought a bunch of SQ Bantam Cochins, Bantam Wyandottes, Salmon Faverolles, and a few other breeds. It was with the understanding that a good bird ate as much as a crappy hatchery bird.

It was one of my most expensive mistakes ever. Those birds were from various breeders and they did absolutely horribly out with the other birds. The Faverolles couldn't take the damp weather and had to be kept inside at all times. The Bantam Wyandotte rooster was violated by our other little rooster in the flock and would spend all of his time hiding from the hens after the other rooster was removed. The Bantam hen did better and hatched out a clutch of eggs on her own, but never liked to leave the nestbox to get down on the ground.

The SQ Cochins never left the barn and had to be kept in hanging cages to keep them happy. I got rid of them after awhile.

I've met a _very_ successful Sebright breeder who keeps his birds in pairs in individual cages. They never leave those cages unless they are being swapped with a different rooster. Those birds wouldn't last a minute outside of their pen because they've been cooped up and kept in safe conditions regularly.

Your teacher is right; looks without production is pointless. But production doesn't earn points on the table and I have met a lot of very competitive breeders.

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Bingo!!

 

[syble]

Its all about strategy right? also breeder ability. I know i don't have the space to set up multiple pens of the same breed and only keep them in pairs. Also i don't like the idea of dead weight roosters eating all the food, and i like to keep my birds socialized because when breeding is done they free range together. I like variety so will be keeping 4 large fowl breeds this year. I know that the best strategy i can employ is one where i raise as many chicks per breed as i can and select the best for next years breeders. Now when it comes down to narrowing 30 pullets down to say 6, maybe only half will be culled due to looks. The remaining extras i'll evaluate based on hardiness, personality, and production. If i have 2 comparable hens, why would i keep a hen that laid small eggs, or one that laid half as many eggs. And on the same route, why would i keep a hen with bad habits, pecking, overly aggressive to the pen mates, or egg breaker. some of those habits can be learned by the hens in her flock, and others like aggressiveness are sometimes passed to offspring. Major reason i wont keep a mean rooster.

As these birds are growing up, i keep an eye on how they develop. birds that struggle to keep up i tend to remove, birds that show any sign of being sick i remove, and birds that generally speaking lack vigor i also remove. I see no point when you have 15 good looking hens, to keep one that isn't as hardy as the rest. I have always bred for vigor, standard and performance, in that order and have done well at shows in the past. And whats better is you get a good reputation for selling hardy stock. I know many people that have had very expensive show stock that they bought from big breeders just fail in a flock or ranging situation. But they weren't brought up that way so you cant blame them. Now had you have hatched some eggs from the same stock, the results may very well have been completely different! I remember a RIR rooster getting his but kicked by an OE bantam. The red was huge, but never had to deal with other roosters, and was never exposed to a flock situation, where as that OE game had the tenacity to take him on and keep coming.

The important thing to remember is to stick with your purpose. If you want high quality flock of assorted true to type hens, go with a breeder. BUT make sure your breeder is more of a flock atmosphere then a protected cage pairing breeder. You always have the option of chicks(which i prefer), they are tougher then people give them credit for and they will handle acclimatizing to your set up better. Besides, who doesn't like chicks! If you just want production birds of similar body types and similar personalities, but in assorted colors go with hatchery stock. There is no right or wrong answer really, it comes to preference.

I will always go for true to type breeder stock because i want to experience a breed as it was meant, not as it evolved in a mass pen. Because lets face it, a breed is not survival of the fittest, it is a specific version, otherwise they would all be the same. And most importantly ASK QUESTIONS! See if a breeder raises their birds in a manor that is similar to you, if not, check with another breeder, or opt for chicks. A breeder wants you to do well with your birds, they dont want em to die on you and you decide that breed is awful.
Sib

 

[Omniskies]

I plan on eating a _lot_ of chicken this year. I already eat a lot of rabbit due to culls.

I plan on hatching like the pleasure center of my brain is directly wired to the turner on my incubators. I want to hatch out as much as I possibly can this year, use the hatching eggs being sold to pay for the ridiculous amounts of feed, electricity, and time I'll be going through, then keep back a very small number of birds for next year's breeding flocks.

With any luck, two things will happen. One, I won't get burned out on chicken/rabbit (or eggs - at this time next year I think I'll be getting 480 eggs/week); and two, by doing flock breedings and paired breedings (plus going through more bands than I ever thought possible), I'll be able to greatly improve my flock quality and size without jeopardizing the genetic diversity I'm always railing about.

In the end I'll either have birds I can brag about or I'll be a quivering mass of twitchy flesh that makes quiet whimpering and gibbling noises.

That's another difference between a hatchery and a breeder. A hatchery will work itself to the bone to make an extra dime. A breeder will work themselves to the bone to have something they can be proud of.

So I guess, in short, breeders are absolutely insane and hatcheries follow proper business plans

 

[punky rooster]

Back to topic
HATCHERY production red (3 lbs) vs BREEDER barred Plymouth rock hen (around 6lbs)
look at how much thicker and bigger the BPR is, and they slim body of the production bird.

If you are looking for only egg production then a hatchery bird is the way to go.
If you are looking for dual purpose bird and looking to preserve a breed then a breeder is the way to go. It is as simple as that.
punky

 

[draye]

Not all hatchry birds are terrible, you actually get some good ones that could compete with breeder birds. That said, I don;t show, I buy what I like and breed what I like. Don't really care much for what rude people think, just goes to show their mentality.

All my chickens are hatchery chickens and they are great birds for me. I plan on breeding some of them and selling them as what I bought them as.

 

[Chickielady]

Beautiful PBRs Punky...a perfect example of a heritage dual purpose breed, BIG and meaty. Wanna see a meatier one ?
:lol
I have spent the day butchering rabbits and am now relaxing..but wanted to say that is a great example of dual purpose and breeder raised birds.
Not to mention they look better too !

 

[Chickielady]

He is on the subject, and I love to hear what breeders have to say, as do alot of other breeders here.
I love the way most of us breeders CARE about our birds type and work like heck to keep our breeds perfect to the SOP.
Which is heart wrenching, depressing, tear filled and at times joyous beyond discription.
We are very serious about preserving our breeds.
Well, hope you all are as serious about preserving the breeds as we breeders are, cuz we are all we've got.
Once again, nice fat healthy PBRs Punky !! Good Job, I know how hard it and how it takes generations, YEARS! To perfect a breed !!
Way to go !

 

[Chickielady]

I logged on this morning to add a little bit about things I have thought up during the night..about hatcheries.
They do have their place in this world just as we breeders do.
Poultry Hatcheries vs. breeders amounts to the same likeness as Puppy mills vs. AKC Dog breeders.
The very same things apply. The hatcheries, like puppy mills, crank out as much as they can from their birds, after all, the idea is to make money. The egg farms are about the same.
They give little care about the health or long life of their birds, or the type and SOP.
Money is the drive in both Bird mills and Puppy mills.
But Hatcheries do make money, and primarily die to the fact that some people just want what they want when they want it as most Most Americans are spoiled rotten and give little time, or effort to working toward or saving anything.
In the case of chickens, these people give it little thought but for the color or egg size.
They want breakfast, plain and simple.
Imagine how the world would be, if Purbred Poultry Breeders and the American Kennel Club, and other heritage breeding organizations just gave up.
The world would be a sad, cloned identical ugly place in no time at all.
Thank goodness some people care about individual breeds, of horses, dogs, cats and poultry and all animals.
Poultry breeders have my unfaltering admiration..it takes years and years and lots of money, time, and shows to perfect a breed.
It can be futile, or it can be wonderful and pay for itself.
But there is little guarantee other than the satisfaction and congradulations from other breeders.
Often, that is enough.
And that is all I have to say ~~You all stay safe in this horrible midwest freeze, try to have a nice day.

 

[groveguy]

Thank you for that comparison. You have a very pretty 6lbs. Barred Plymouth Rock. It shows the obvious difference in the "breeder'' verses the hatchery chicken. I hope it will win plenty of ribbons for you. And the 3lbs. hatchery type production Red , excellent example of a hen that grows quickly and converts feed to eggs efficiently and economically.