What is the difference between breeder quality chickens and exhibition quality chickens?

[dracoe19]

So lately I have caught on there is a difference between breeder and exhibition quality chickens. My question is what's the difference? I would think they were basically the same since both are following the SOP for the breed but are there traits an exhibition bird has that breeders generally don't? Or are breeders birds that aren't quite exhibition quality but have favorable traits that they pass on to young that could potentially be exhibition quality birds? Example you have a large bird with great type and color but his head isn't quite right so you breed to a hen that has a great head but is slightly lacking in size or color. They are both very nice birds but have slight flaws that would not allow them to win big at a show. Is this the difference between the breeder and exhibition? That is all I can think of to be the difference...

Also the main reason I am asking is I am probably going to buy some silver laced wyandottes from Jerry Foley and he says they are breeder quality so I want to know exactly what it means. I am showing my birds, slowly but surely, so this would definitely clear up a lot of "I wonder...".

Thanks in advance for the help!

 

[Debbi]

I would say your thinking is spot on. I would also ask Mr. Foley to point out to you just why he thinks they are breeders and not show worthy. A good breeder will be more than happy to do that for you, so you can learn more what to expect from his line. Good luck with showing your birds!

 

[dracoe19]

Alright I'm glad I had the right mind of thinking. I can't wait to meet Mr. Foley and see his beautiful birds! Thanks!

 

[NYREDS]

I'm not aware of a global definition that seperates" breeder quality" from "show quality". In most cases where I've seen the term used it was applied to birds that were generally of good quality with some minor imperfections. The premise being the because of their genetin background they are likely to produce high quality offspring.
However, I've also seen the term used to describe poor quality birds with the claim they'd produce better offspring. These birds I'd avoid as I firmly believe in the adage "you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear".
While I know it's not always possible knowing something about the seller & their trustworthiness is adviseable. As far as I know the seller you named has a good reputation.

 

[Narragansett]

NYREDS is right. To put it another way, most serious exhibition breeders know what those terms mean or aught to mean, but when they are used and abused by those who don't, there is a lot of confusion created. The world does not always fit into neat little cubbyholes which define everything in strict, simple terms.

 

[galanie]

I think in some cases "breeder quality" is used to indicate those that have been bred to SOP but to avoid saying they will all win at shows. Some breeders don't show, so I doubt they'd claim any to be "show quality" even though people do buy their "breeder quality" birds and show them and win.

 

[Narragansett]

That's still a meaningless definition. Birds can be show quality or not. It doesn't matter if the breeder actually shows them and gets results to prove it. On my farm almost all "breeder quality" birds are also show quality, as my show birds are kept as my breeders. The few that I sell as "breeder quality" to others are also "show quality" birds that will win at some shows under some judges, but they are just not as nice as those that I kept, or, they are older, or have some other fault that now makes them less competitive. It varies by breed too, In Call ducks, "breeder quality" females are not "show quality", they are too large, but if they are from show lines they will produce "show quality" birds if paired right. Many chicken varieties have color or pattern faults that are not showable themselves, but these "breeder quality" birds are used to breed correct show birds, especially in those varieties which require double mating.
Basically it's a good idea not to try to pigeonhole birds into these easily designated terms, because there is really no such thing. It seems a common theme here to try to break things down to the most simplistic of terms for ease of understanding, but the reality is it doesn't always work that way. Some things are just a little complicated sometimes, and you have to learn how to understand them without a simple single term that can't adequately describe them anyway. Focus instead on just working with quality birds period, as determined by how competitive they are at shows, how closely they resemble the ideal, how few faults they have as described in the Standard, etc. Consider everything else a cull, unless useful in a double mating scheme, or as in Call ducks. To learn all that just takes time and experience. There is no single term to describe it.

 

[galanie]

Didn't realize you thought they were meaningless definitions in the first place but often, yes, they are. And sometimes interchangeable, as you have just shown. One can be the other as well.

But: Breeder Quality does not guarantee Show Quality. It just designates that the chicken at least has been bred with the SOP in mind and not some backyard hodgepodge or hatchery bird. This is the minimal definition in my mind.

It can mean more than that, depending. Obviously the nuances past that are more important to some than to others.

 

[menacemuller]

You guys are just super wonderful, that's all the information I needed to understand this issue. Thanks a million guys.