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

[Chris09]

Here is another example. (Rouen ducks)

Breeder-
http://www.moonridgefarm.co.uk/page15.htm

http://showbirdbid.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=iwbaforum&action=display&thread=1208&page=5

Hatchery-
Welp-
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.welphatchery.com/04c-images/duck_mallard.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.welphatchery.com/ducks/wild_mallard.asp&usg=__IP9X5C1Xtx7hRQKd3G18HbfKH-c=&h=200&w=200&sz=9&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=LqUIIu78MRH4aM:&tbnh=160&tbnw=160&ei=QoFWTeTqFpD1gAeX7PD2DA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Drouen%2Bduck%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DX%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26biw%3D1440%26bih%3D656%26tbs%3Disch:10%2C228&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=422&vpy=251&dur=3541&hovh=160&hovw=160&tx=124&ty=119&oei=JoFWTef0PIWKlweT_9H4Bg&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0&biw=1440&bih=656

Cackle-
http://www.cacklehatchery.com/rouenpage.html

Chris

 

[olds cool]

This is a very informative topic. Many different views. Personally, I am going to start with hatchery chicks because I feel like the gene pool is probably there and it will give me good practice culling and improving toward SOP. I have read the three part article at ALBC several times and will probably read it some more. Years ago I raised 100s of game fowl and had dozens of single matings and kept very detailed records. Improvement or change can be made fairly fast under these conditions if the breeder has concrete ideas or goals. It pays to have firmly set goals and cull without mercy. I can easily imagine culling 90% the first year.

As far as hatchery stock goes I would venture to guess that truth be known a fair amount of "breeders" got their first stock this way. This is what I call "seed" stock. It's something you can grow from. Also, I think this method is much more educational than going up and plunking down enough $$ to buy a national champion trio then take them home and start multiplying them. This does not make a person a "breeder". There is a big difference between a breeder and a multiplier no matter how good the parent stock is.

The forgoing statements are just my opinions and I welcome response so that we all may learn.

 

[Chickielady]

Hatchery birds are indeed a good way to learn about raising poultry.
However getting them and working towards perfection with them may not be at all possible, especially in the industrial or hybredized varieties.
If working towards a standard of perfection, why not start with more perfect stock, and then working it further?
It is tremendously endless work to perfect a breed..and takes years.
In the end, you will always have to buy more perfect stock to breed into the imperfect stock you have already purchased and invested great amounts of time and money and love into.
Then to have to cull as they are imperfect, instead of being able to breed them, is not money wise or worth while.
Breeding an imperfect bird to an imperfect bird will just get you an imperfect bird, and that that just took about 2 years right there.
The fast remains, if you want some chickens for fun, and eggs..then get hatchery birds.
They have been engineered for years for this very purpose.
But if you sincerely want to work with a breed you find attractive and intriging, and you want to raise them, perfect them, and even show them, then I strongly advise you start with the good stuff.
You cannot make a silk purse from a sow's ear..and you will be sorely disapointed in trying to make SOP birds from hatchery birds, RIR for a good example, or Ameraucanas for another example.

 

[punky rooster]

Quote:
I don't think hatcheries are a bad start, especially for beginners. I think when a breed is VERY rare and it seems that only hatcheries offer it, then I think its a good start. Like Dorkings, I considered getting some SG from Mcmurry because I have not found any breeders. I have since found my breeds and if I want to start a project then that is where I'll turn.

Some hatcheries got their birds from breeders, and are a decent quality start.
Punky

 

[greathorse]

Quote:
I respectfullly disagree, with your premise. An inexperienced breeder can quickly make a mess of good birds, a great breeder can spend a life time trying to get a hatchery bird to meet the standard and will likely never get close. Most good breeders today started with good lines and have done what they can to improve them.. My definition of seed stock is good stock that you may cross with lesser stock if you need to, not the other way around.

JMO

 

[Illia]

Quote:
Just a correction, hatcheries got their birds from breeders.

It began with breeders. Just as puppy mills began with someone thinking a show dog was cute, and just bred the life out of it to get a bunch of puppies to sell.


Getting birds from a hatchery and culling them back to the SOP is very hard, actually, especially when you have such a horrible base. I'd like to see someone successfully use strictly hatchery Houdans to get back to the true Houdan. . . .

Also as a note, hatcheries are not as diverse as you may think. They've been using the same stock for decades, if they actually added new blood, it would be good quality blood, which you'd see now and then. I personally have yet to see Easter Eggers truly change, or Wyandottes get any better or fluffier, or even Rhode Island Reds get any meatier or darker in color.


I agree, hatcheries are a great starter for a new person, but to me they are very much like a puppy mill, - breeding in large quantities, and solely for profit.

 

[Chickielady]

I agree whole heartedly as my post above. Decide what you want to do, and get the correct birds.
You cannot buy a saddle pony then decide you are going to breed this little horse into a thoroughbred.
You have to either stick with your hatchery saddle pony, or dive into pure bred stock.
One or the other.

 

[olds cool]

Quote:
I respectfullly disagree, with your premise. An inexperienced breeder can quickly make a mess of good birds, a great breeder can spend a life time trying to get a hatchery bird to meet the standard and will likely never get close. Most good breeders today started with good lines and have done what they can to improve them.. My definition of seed stock is good stock that you may cross with lesser stock if you need to, not the other way around.

JMO

Actually we agree. You probably said it better. What I meant is that an inexperienced person with the money to buy great brood stock is just going to multiply the breed not necessarily carry on the work of the seller. An inexperienced person who does not understand or does not have an eye will waste their money and the stock they bought. So it may be best for them to start with lesser stock so they can see improvement and improvement can definitely be seen by raising enough and culling hard.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
I agree, I was shocked to see the size of the show-quality buff orpingtons! The SQ hens were as big as the hatchery roosters I've seen...the SQ roosters were twice as big.

 

[shelleyd2008]

Quote:
Cochins should not have crests