Why do hatcheries do this? Seems morally wrong and totally dishonest

[acy0029]

I look at it this way; even top breeders have only a small percentage of show quality birds out of every hatch I'm not a breeder so I'm not sure the exact percentage but I know it's small. Like a contest for instance it may say you have a 1 in 5 chance of winning does that mean if you try five times you'll win...no you may try 50 times and not win but someone else may try 5 times and win on all 5 tries. So when you buy a chick at a hatchery that is dealing with 100,000 chicks a week your chances of getting a chick that is close to standard are slim at best especially since most people order only a couple of any given breed. That's just my opinion.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

I have deleted and re-wrote my post several times! I had some mean things to say and then decided against it! I have been raising chickens for 4 years and 95% of my chickens are from hatcheries. I don't show my birds, I like getting the eggs and I have many many customers who love eating my farm fresh eggs and are very pleased. I enjoy my chickens, they are very well cared for! I may not have all the best "pure" breed chickens, I DON'T CARE!!! What is with all this "pure" breed hype, and just because you have "Pure" breed chickens you think your all better then those that buy from hatcheries?...You can stick your noses up at me all you want, I LIKE MY HATCHERY STOCK CHICKENS!!!!

 

[Katy]

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I'm not a fan of hatcheries simply because of the quality of birds they sell as pure. Hatchery birds is all I had for many years and they gave me many good eggs, but I tired of the birds I ordered never looking much like the breed they were supposed to be. Over the last several years I have switched over and now all my stock originated from breeder birds.....I don't show and have no plans to but I will say I greatly njoy having birds that look like they're supposed to for that breed.

I don't have my nose in the air because I have a certain type of bird....it's everyone's choice where they get their birds and if someone is happy with their hatchery birds, that's great.

I do think hatcheries do a disservice by not using pictures of their breeder birds as examples of what you will get....especially to people who are just starting out with poultry.

 

[galanie]

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Amen. And please folks, there is no reason to be rude. Most people here are so very nice.

 

[galanie]

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The OP isn't mad because of the quality of the chickens, she's mad because she didn't get what she ordered. How many of you would order a red dress and be perfectly happy if you got a red t-shirt instead? I have some hatchery stock ones too. I ordered buff orpingtons and that's what I got. Had I gotten RIR or something instead, I'd have been upset, too! The only time it is excusable is if they inform you that a substitution might be made and are you ok with that? Stating, of course, what breed they are substituting.

 

[calista]

OP, have you considered writing just the kind of eloquent message you shared with us to the Operations Manager at this hatchery?

In the Internet Age (with Facebook and Twitter, especially), the perceived public reputation of a company and its offerings can be damaged by widespread sharing of just the kind of experience you are having. No owner/manager wants unhappy and dissatisfied customers, and it IS the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.

Just include the photo proof, your outline of the problem as you see it, and your SPECIFIC expectations to resolve the issue. (Do you want a refund? Replacements? What would make the situation right for you?)

You might be pleasantly surprised by the response you get.

 

[misslady]

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I love my hatchery birds. And I love my hatchery.

I don't think anyone here has anything against all hatcheries. They produce great laying and/or meat birds. I consider my birds to be "pure" even though they may not be "show" quality. There is a difference, but that is just my opinion. I prefer the functionality of hatchery birds over the form aspect as well.

I simply think that in the OP's case, the hatchery they used just didn't do right by them. If you promise a certain breed, I think that is what good business ethics require that you deliver. Hopefully that helps.

 

[Nikkumz]

Just for the record, i wasNT trying to be mean!! I know no one said anything to me but i hope no one thought i was trying to sound mean at all. I was just saying that they wont guarantee 100% because they know they cant be completely sure.

EDITED!

 

[KlaHaYa Gardens]

Quote:
This is the part of your post that I want to address.

There is one hatchery that I have ordered from with mixed success. (I will order from them again, but my expectations are not high.)

What I want to say is this: this particular hatchery has drawings of their birds, rather than photos. So, immediately I am at a disadvantage. The descriptions leave something to be desired. so, in the end, I don't have much to go on as far as what the bird will look like except my own experience.


Thus . . . my expectations are low, in which case I welcome pleasant surprises in an especially good looking bird.

What I would really appreciate, is if the hatchery would include photos, including of their breeders.

 

[BANTAMWYANDOTTE]

It is very true what many of you said about the appearance not being anything like we normally see. First of all I never said a single thing about my feelings or reasons for ordering the birds. You simply were given a single impression that I expected show-quality. Some assumed that I was a in-experienced young adult with very few years in the chicken world or something similar. So I took a minute to set those persons straight.


To These members:
Oregon Blues, Domestic_goddess, Nikkumz,


First

This thread had nothing to do with me not getting show quality (or even medium-quality) chicks from a hatchery and my disappointment. IF I believed I would get show quality birds from a hatchery after fifteen years spent becoming a well-respected breeder of SHOW QUALITY American Gamefowl, then I am either living on a deserted island or stupid. I promise I a neither one. I have seen enough eager eyed people at poultry shows holding a hatchery bird and there surprise and disappointment when they were told this. Furthermore, I sell show-quality birds (chicks and adults) and I know the average price. Hatcheries offer chicks at a fraction of that cost. Again, I am not stupid or in any-way that gullible.

Second

The true purpose of my second post was to see is the Rooster and Hens I recievef was was morality and ethically wrong and the loss of these qualities in Hatcheries. They lie and advertise pictures of a product they don't even advertise. That is a very sad thing to me. As a child things were different and I liked it when you could trust a business to provide honest and loyal service both before and after your purchase. Simply put I wanted to share with others that no longer is the customer's happiness a priority with Hatcheries (or any big business these days). The point was to see if I was the only one who experienced this problem and maybe find a hatchery with better customer service and more likely to advertise the product they sell.


Third

I am have spent my adult life rescuing and helping chickens in every situation known to man. I have 44 birds besides my breeding stock that I keep for egg chickens and as pets. Of these 44, only 7 of them are not a rescue or a chicken I had to nurse to health after an accident of some sort and all 44 are birds originally ordered from a hatchery. The other 7 I ordered at one time or another I post advice that is aimed only at the best-interest of the chicken involved and always give the chickens owner all the information I have. I am a true chicken lover. So much that I can't even bring myself to eat any of the chicks I raise from my egg hens. I only wish the best to every chicken lover and give them all my support when they are doing the best to provide the best life possible for their flock. I have never been accused of not loving my hatchery chickens. If I didn't love them and care about them, why would bother trying to ID the breed in another thread before this one? I only wanted to be able to help the people who buy his offspring know more about what they were getting. (I have morals and ethics)

Fourth and Final

The birds I have from hatcheries are better-mannered and more calm than any show bird I have ever seen. I do not care about mixed breed chickens VS pure-bred. I only make a difference between the two when I am paying for chickens that are advertised as pure. I am not someone who wants the best chickens so that I can gloat or brag. I am a humble man with a love for chickens. I am not an expert and am no higher than any other man. I was raised in the poor hills of Kentucky and was taught good values. I am not arrogant and think of myself as a normal average human. I only wanted advice here and you simply treated me like a foolish old man who had lost his mind. I am offended and happy to give my two-cents about your posts and/or their implications.


AGAIN I AM NOT STUPID AND YOU MIS-READ MY TRUE INTENTIONS HERE....