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Greenleaf Farms

Ameraucanas and Araucanas on the range
(Forest City, Pennsylvania)

Victoria TX on Store bought chicks

This article on Hanselina is from 1984.  Back then only Agway, the farm cooperative out of upper New York State, was the only way for most to buy chicks unless they knew a breeder who would sell them some.  Now there are lots of hatcheries including your local Tractor Supply.

So what's the diff between hatcheries and breeder chicks?  Quality for the most part.   Most breeders are giving you chicks from their show line, so if you are good at culling and breed hard, eventually you can get a top flock.  With hatcheries that will rarely if ever happen.  

So how do you know a breeder from a hatchery?

Ask the seller, though some like Mt Healthy, Ideal, Hoffman and McMurray admit these are not show birds, but what you are getting is some stock to start with and replenish with show birds that you buy from breeders if you are interested in line improvement.  Some people aren't, and they just want a pretty bird, but if you are interested in a good showable line that you will be keeping for years, make sure you know what you are getting from whom.

Suki
06:16 PM EDT
 
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