A thred about picture comparison of hatchery versus breeder, females

I made a post back in December of 2011 that had some nice pictures of some of the notes that I saw with my flock of buff orpingtons. Back those years ago, I had hatchery bred hens and breeder bred hens, of the buff orpington breed. I wanted to show the differences that I saw between even the females of the breed, some nice pictures and it was good to back for a walk down that memory lane. Enjoy. And have a most wonderful day, CynthiaM.

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I have always admired Hobbychicken's birds. I didn't realize you had bought from her so long ago.

Did you ever breed the big Roos to your little hatchery hens?

I am always quite amazed at the difference between them and how uneducated people are about the difference. I had someone email me in the fall looking for aussies. I just got around now to replying because chick season is nearing and I could answer their questions now...anyways....

Turns out the bought a bunch pullet chicks from Beaupeep. They had no idea they were hatchery stock brought in from the states. They were currently interested in 3 roos though. I tried to tackfully explain that they would be very different and my boys are huge and will be really large compared to a hatchery aussie hen. SO their response was so we need to introduce some size to the flock? Well and probably type as they dont resemble an proper aussie. I did not hear back from them about the roos but part of me was hesitant to sell them because I feel if they are breeding them to the hatchery stock they are not doing any good to the breed. There are lots of nicely bred birds out there this does not need to happen.

My rant for the day.

I am with you, Fuzzylittlefriend. I find that many people starting with purebred poultry have an extremely hard time seeing body shape and type...especially if they are only familiar with Internet pictures. They seem to have trouble seeing past color and pattern. Every buff bird is a buff orp, every barred bird is a barred rock, etc.

I do tire of people saying oh, I don't need birds bred to the SOP because I have no interest in showing! What! What! You want a buff orp for it's color, shape, size, meatiness, traits, temperament and layability but you want to discount the one thing that ensures the bird will do all those things the way it was originally intended? The SOP?!

Your rant brought one out in me, too, Fuzzy.

Sue, none of the hatchery stock hens were used in the breeding program. I kept track of them and never set any of the eggs as breeding stock. I might have made a mistake, who knows, maybe I would have had some very nice offspring if I had kept on any chicks that I could have incubated, who knows, and it does not matter. I was not interested in mixing up those genetics. The hatchery girls went to awesome homes, and they were very lovely and laid the most huge eggs. I was in love with them too, but wanted to keep the lines clean to what I wanted to use in the breedings in the future. Have a wonderful night, days to follow, CynthiaM.

a rant a day is good for you!