Why are the chickens at the poultry shows so much bigger than the ones

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

you order or buy at the feed store? Are they not full stock? I had ordered some light brahmas from the feed store. After seeing the light brahma's from the poultry show in Lucasville, Ohio. My chickens are small compared to them. I asked if they had been given steroids! I feel like I have ripped off. Even the Buff Orpingtons were so much bigger than mine. They almost looked unreal they were so big. Mine are over a year old. The pullets were twice the size of my over a year old. ???????? DJ

 

[hinkjc]

The ones sold at feed stores are from hatcheries who focus more on production strains (bred smaller for better laying ability).

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

Some breeds take much longer to mature to full-size than some. For example, Cochins take 2 years or more to get to that massive size they are known for.

 

[TimG]

Are you suggesting the hatcheries cull the larger birds so that they are actually actively reducing the size of the bird? Or, do they just not pay much attention at all to size and thus the birds revert to some "normal" size?

It is my impression that in order to maintain the large sizes, one has to be proactive in breeding -- that the large sizes in birds that are shown isn't really "normal" but rather achieved through selective breeding aimed at, amongst other things, size.

 

[RubberChickenLubber]

Most hatchery breeds are designed mostly for laying, and not for size. They do not cull for this, just the stock they are coming from. Many of the show quality birds do not lay as well, and from what I understand are basically another strain of the breed. They are breed for looks and standard. You were not jipped, you got what you ordered. You would probably be more upset if they sent you show quality, because you would feel jipped with the lack of egg production.

Edited to add: Experts feel free to correct anything I may have stated that is not correct....lol

 

[StrawberryHouseMouse]

hatcheries also dont care what is being bred. As long as they collect fertilized eggs they could care less what the breeders look like. Some breeders breed for size. The larger the better when it comes to their opinion of the large breed of bird.

 

[ArizonaNessa]

Interesting!!!

 

[LilPeeps]

Hatcheries breed for quantity, not quality, so they could care less about the birds as long as they're making money.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I know what you mean, when I first went to a poultry show I was in awe of the size of the birds. I remember one of the famous breeders in our area said that for his largefowl dual purpose breeds like rocks and sussex he said that as they were growing he would mix the feed 3/4 normal chick feed and 1/4 meat bird feed which got them alittle bigger.

 

[chickenchickenbulkbulk]

Don't get me wrong..I love and enjoy every chick I have bought. I just feel that a Buff should be a buff. All chickens should be bred equally and the same quality in every stock. I didn't know all about this quantity vs quality, I thought all chickens were bred equally, this is all new to me..I should have done my home work!! Should I question if my chickens are full stock. I ordered full stock?! I am satisfied with my chickens..I know now that I will have to buy show chickens from a breeder not a feed store. Lessened learned. Thanks for all the advice and your thoughts. I appreciate all of them. DJ