I see people often comment unhappily about hatchery chickens. I am new to chickens...so I am pretty clueless to the problems. I got my chickens this spring from TSC. Have had no troubles. One died, but can't say why, it was only a week or two old. Since I just kind jumped in blind to chickens I would hardly say it was their fault.it could be something I did or didn't do. Anyway...whatis wrong with hatchery peeps? Do they not come true to breed.. and what does that matter if all you want is eatible eggs. Just asking...
It depends on your purpose for having them, really. Many of my hatchery girls have died from internal laying/reproductive malfunctions. They were not show-worthy, didn't really meet the standard, but they were all sweet girls. If you see a hatchery silver Laced Wyandotte, then you see a really good breeder quality Wyandotte, you'll understand what I'm saying about not meeting the standard. If you just want pets and eggs, nothing wrong with hatchery stock, but they are not bred with longevity in mind.
I think it's been stated well earlier, but in general you will find better quality and healthier birds and more care given both the flocks and the babies/hatching eggs to the small breeder - not large hatchery. Some large hatcheries also outsource and basically go around and collect the eggs and hatch in mega incubators. It's just an entirely different focus.. We hatch our own eggs now....We're small breeders, a much different focus.
