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

[cashdl]

It might be easier for chickenannie to understand if someone could post the difference in pictures of say a hatchery RIR and a breeder RIR, or a hatchery Barred Rock and a breeder one. The difference in quality is easier to see in pictures than words.

You can't expect someone who is cranking out chicks to supply the demand, to have the same quality control of a breeder who selectively breeds and culls their birds to a specific standard that was laid out in some cases 50 years or more ago.

There have been alot and I mean alot of people on the BYC forum wondering what they were sent from a hatchery cause they ordered a specific breed and what they got doesn't look like it. Just peruse the "What Breed or Gender is this" Forum and you will see what I mean.

Lanae

 

[chickenannie]

I may be slow... but i think I'm starting to get the picture. Very helpful info.... very interesting topic.... though I'm still not sure how to locate a reputable breeder!!! maybe I'll have to start visiting some...

 

[cashdl]

What ever breed you are interested in, check out their breed club. They will have a list of breeders on one of their pages.

Lanae

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Dual-purpose would make the most sense. They'd breed for birds that were both large and laid enough eggs to feed the family. I mean, they ate birds that no longer had a use. They would also breed for broodiness, probably not on purpose but birds left to their own devices tend to breed for natural traits. A broody bird will hide a nest if given the chance. This means her eggs will be there and her own chicks may have the natural desire to brood as well, thereby increasing the likeliness for broodiness.

As for going off of the deep end, they are already doing that. Some breeds are so hard to discern between it's ridiculous. Black Jersey Giants are being confused for Black Australorps and vice-versa.

Buff Orpingtons and Buff Plymouth Rocks, I'm certain, are being thrown together in pens because the people in charge of the breeder pens simply do not have the knowledge needed (or do not care enough) to separate the breeds according to breed characteristics.

Allow me to illustrate my point:
Buff Orpington:

Buff Plymouth Rock:

See how there is little to no difference between the body type of the hens? The only difference would be leg-coloring. An exhibition bird would not look anywhere near similar to the other breed. Australorps and Jersey Giants have an even greater difference yet are even more difficult to tell the difference between with production birds.

Langshans are going to be my absolute breed from now on. Each time I handle them and plan for the next year, I fall deeper in love with them. I think everyone should have at least one Langshan in their flock!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
Great minds Illia!

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Yes, clearly I don't know my breeds very well... at least not these!!!

You will hate this story, but the reason I have several black langshans is because I went to an auction (only once ever) and saw these brilliantly sheened black hens and bought them on impulse. Well, they were naughty egg eaters, but I trained them off of that. One has a blue-egg gene, strangely. But I love the little gals (they are bantams I believe). It took me forever to determine what they were... I thought the feathered feet were a cross since the feathering was so mild. But I finally figured it out. I love their warbling sounds. I love the way they can open and close their tail fans in different shapes. They fly and are much smarter than my other chickens, and they are such fierce mothers. Once I actually saw 3 langshan hens gang up together and charge a large hawk that was attacking the one that had chicks. I had never heard that shrieking sound before and couldn't imagine such a loud sound was coming from such tiny birds. But it was, and it scared the hawk away too. I still have them all from that first bunch which was a number of years ago.

 

[al6517]

Personaly I think that Hatcheries know that 99.999% of their customers really don't know or care that their chickens are not close to looking like the breed type or any other particulars. What their customers want is a convienant way to get chickens delivered to them that cluck & crow and lay egg's, and that it might look something like what's in their Catalog picture. Most hatchery Buyers really don't have a clue either when it comes to evaluating a bird that comes from a hatchery they just assume the almighty hatchery are the Pro's and they know best. Hatchery customers also don't care by virtue of their lack of poultry knowledge to seek out and learn from real breeders and they care about quality, plus your run of the mill hatchery customer doesn't want to spend a few penny's more for good birds or go through the trouble to research the breed, find a good breeder, get on a waiting list, deal with special shipping, things that are critical to getting breeder stock.

The hatcheries know this and that's why their business will always be good and will certainly ensure a never ending supply of forum post where an OP post's what kind of chicken is this ???? LOL. I think the folks who have posted have done a good job of desribing the difference between the two. I for one don't do Hatchery as many others.

AL

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
Good idea
my breeder Barred Rock

a hatchery barred rock

Notice the barring the hatchery bird has more of a cuckoo pattern then barred.

 

[KimberlyJ]

Thanks for the pictures Punky Rooster. Now I do see the difference. However, that roo is STILL absolutely gorgeous!

 

[chickenannie]

Quote:
Good idea
my breeder Barred Rock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/63711_chickens_013.jpg
a hatchery barred rock
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/63711_brroo3_07_2.jpg
Notice the barring the hatchery bird has more of a cuckoo pattern then barred.

Can you go back to those photo posts and give more comparisons, besides just the barring?