What does "No Hatchery" mean?

[Smithyard Farm]

I have seen this on several posts for people selling eggs or chicks... what does it mean exactly??

 

[Kevin565]

I believe it means that their birds do not contain hatchery stock blood.

 

[Smithyard Farm]

sorry.. and what is hatchery stock?

 

[CGinJCMO]

Hatchery stock comes from a hatchery (MurraryMcmurrary, Cackle, etc)

Non-hatchery stock comes from a breeder usually using heritage. I assume there comes a time when the stock can be called non-hatchery but I do not know how many years that takes.

 

[Fred's Hens]

The trouble is precisely that. Second or third generation away from a hatchery doesn't exactly mean heirloom, heritage stock. It is confusing, a bit. I'd want a little more information from the seller.