The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding
Quality vs Quantity
Lindsay Helton:
--- Quote from: Stephan Roaque on May 15, 2020, 05:28:57 PM ---Afternoon,
This has always been a topic that I feel should be talked about more often. And maybe it does. I have set personal goals to not only to breed my birds towards the standard but also be breed quality. Susan Mouw posted recently in regards to this on the FB Ameraucana page. What I want to ask those that have done it respectively is at what point do you draw the line at quality vs quantity? To be more specific when do you or how do you try to not to stray away from quality? Breeders can get pressured to produce volume, its up to the breeder to dictate(in my opinion) how much to sell as far as eggs and day old chicks. I have two birds now that are poor quality. And I am bummed about that. But I have some new ones now from two other breeders that I hope to correct the situation I am currently in. What advice or tips can you give? Please. Thanks. This is for discussion not argument please. Thank you for your time.
--- End quote ---
Stephan,
To maintain quality, always focus on it first and foremost. There will not be any pressure to produce volume if you do not allow there to be pressure.
A true “breeder” always focuses on quality over quantity when it comes to selling hatching eggs, chicks and started birds. Now, to maintain and improve quality in your line, you will need to produce quantity when hatching and raising birds on the farm. Most breeders with a good line hope for around 50% of birds produced to be worthy of breeding and around 10%-25% produced to be show quality. That means in a batch of 20, hopefully 10 will be worthy of making it to a breeding pen and a handful worthy of showing. Sometimes those numbers are smaller. Many breeders will only keep the show quality birds for their breeding pens the following season.
Lindsay Helton:
--- Quote from: Stephan Roaque on May 22, 2020, 07:41:38 PM ---These are chicks that we purchased. How long would you say it takes for the Wheaten/Blue Wheaten to finish out? What are your thoughts on purchasing a trio as well? Or would that be too much? Thank you for the advice and your time.
Stephan
--- End quote ---
Wheaten and blue wheaten are very slow to develop. Males can take up to a year to finish out. I recommend growing them all out so you can become familiar with the line you are working with. That is how we learn. Cull for any disqualifications and for poor type along the way. Females will finish a little sooner and are usually ready to show at around 8 months of age.
Birdcrazy:
Stephan, I usually wait until my Wheaten/Blue Wheaten cockerels are 10 months old or so before I make my final cull. Example if I intend to keep 2 for my breeding pens for the next year I will probably have 4-5 at my final cull. Blue Wheaten cockerels I like to give time to evaluate the color hue and edging in the breast. Pullets you can probably final cull at 8 months or so. As Lindsay put in her post I usually put my best show birds into breeding pens the next year. The only drawback to this is usually that means I am showing cockerels and pullets every year and very seldom cocks or hens. The pro side to this is hopefully I am improving the quality of my breeding pens and my chicks. On your question of buying a trio, if you can find one within reasonable driving distance or make arrangements to make connections with a breeder to meet you at a show for the transfer. That is because the shipping containers and freight is extremely high on adult birds. Hopefully you can find a nice trio out of the chicks that you just purchased.
Birdcrazy:
Lindsay, you were posting as I was typing (well pecking my way) to Stephan's questions. Amazing that your answers and mine were so close. No Stephan, we didn't collaborate on answers!
Stephan Roaque:
Thanks for the info both of you. You two aren’t far off from each other. Which is good to me. Lindsay- I’ll note what you said and you make some very valid points. Gordon has too.
Gordon- the closest breeder to me is in Texas. So I’m
Gonna have to have some shipped. That’s the issue with out where I am. Again thank for the tips, both of you.
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