Fred's Fine Fowl
09-30-2008, 08:13 AM
Thinking about purchasing chickens and have no idea where to get them?
This should help you make the right decision for you.
In yet another thread, we can discuss different breeds and their strenghs/weaknesses.
I examine birds for people often and I’m frequently asked to help identify a certain favorite hen or rooster. Some of the strangest breed examples, based on my experience, come from feed and farm supply stores. These are normally untility stock and are often very distant examples of the breeds named on the receipts. More than one 4-H child has cheerfully presented a favorite chicken to me, only to learn that it’s completely out of class for the breed. The glow immediately leaves their hopeful faces… so, bird swap meets, live bird markets and in general, feed supply stores are not on the top of my list for sourcing.
I also belong to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and think top consideration should be given to breeds that are of endangered heritage stock.
http://www.albc-usa.org Here you will find a list of breeders located in your State and breeds they handle. I encourage everyone to donate to this organization, as they are working hard to preserve heritage farm animals of all sorts.
Next, of course, is the nation’s largest Rare Breeds Hatchery, Murray McMurray. They are my friends and provide some of the very best birds available to the general public. Murray McMurray hatches their own and also has several contributing flock owners with a very long record of excellence and true to type breeds and types within each breed. http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/
There has been some discussion regarding game birds such as quail… hands down, my preferred source for quality gamebirds, and a variety of other winged live stock, is Stromberg’s… This family has a stellar reputation in the poultry industry! They do not have their own hatchery, but rather source their stock via some of the most respected breeders in the nation. For example, won’t get a better Rhode Island Red from any other major breeder/source. http://www.strombergschickens.com
IF you are considering purchasing day old chicks or adults for that matter, from individuals, please check that the flock is monitored and is pullorum and typhoid clean or, that you have personally seen the poultry operation and know what healthy conditions are and what good birds look like. Even haching eggs should be sourced from responsible flock owners and interstate shipments should have a VS-Form 90, which is a certificate of health for the originator.
Want to know who participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan in your State? Here you can find a list of participating breeders/owners and see which breeds they handle.
NPIP Site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry
Search Your State for a participant: https://npip.aphis.usda.gov/npip/openParticipantSearch.do
This should get you started on the right track to obtaining healthy, true to type birds!
This should help you make the right decision for you.
In yet another thread, we can discuss different breeds and their strenghs/weaknesses.
I examine birds for people often and I’m frequently asked to help identify a certain favorite hen or rooster. Some of the strangest breed examples, based on my experience, come from feed and farm supply stores. These are normally untility stock and are often very distant examples of the breeds named on the receipts. More than one 4-H child has cheerfully presented a favorite chicken to me, only to learn that it’s completely out of class for the breed. The glow immediately leaves their hopeful faces… so, bird swap meets, live bird markets and in general, feed supply stores are not on the top of my list for sourcing.
I also belong to the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy (ALBC) and think top consideration should be given to breeds that are of endangered heritage stock.
http://www.albc-usa.org Here you will find a list of breeders located in your State and breeds they handle. I encourage everyone to donate to this organization, as they are working hard to preserve heritage farm animals of all sorts.
Next, of course, is the nation’s largest Rare Breeds Hatchery, Murray McMurray. They are my friends and provide some of the very best birds available to the general public. Murray McMurray hatches their own and also has several contributing flock owners with a very long record of excellence and true to type breeds and types within each breed. http://www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/
There has been some discussion regarding game birds such as quail… hands down, my preferred source for quality gamebirds, and a variety of other winged live stock, is Stromberg’s… This family has a stellar reputation in the poultry industry! They do not have their own hatchery, but rather source their stock via some of the most respected breeders in the nation. For example, won’t get a better Rhode Island Red from any other major breeder/source. http://www.strombergschickens.com
IF you are considering purchasing day old chicks or adults for that matter, from individuals, please check that the flock is monitored and is pullorum and typhoid clean or, that you have personally seen the poultry operation and know what healthy conditions are and what good birds look like. Even haching eggs should be sourced from responsible flock owners and interstate shipments should have a VS-Form 90, which is a certificate of health for the originator.
Want to know who participates in the National Poultry Improvement Plan in your State? Here you can find a list of participating breeders/owners and see which breeds they handle.
NPIP Site: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_dis_spec/poultry
Search Your State for a participant: https://npip.aphis.usda.gov/npip/openParticipantSearch.do
This should get you started on the right track to obtaining healthy, true to type birds!