katieD Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 hi all thanks for all your recomendations on the incubator- think i may get the R com one ive been looking at breeds to possibly hatch- i want to breed rare breeds preferably as i like the idea of helping sustain breeds and also work want to buy some off me to educate the students about rare breeds, breeding, genetics etc. i love the chocolate orpingtons (large and bantam) ive discovered that there eggs sell for around £100 + for 6 but then thought what would stop me hatching some and setting up by own breeding pen to sell hatching eggs/day olds etc from?? it almost seems too good to be true to sell hatching eggs for that rate and day olds seem to sell for around £80! am i missing something?? surely i am? Katie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 You have missed something ...... the boat! The price this year and last reflected the rarity. Now that hatching eggs have been spread far and wide across the country, everyone under the sun will be selling them next spring. Just watch the price come down to earth lol! Also, to set up a breeding pen, you'd need eggs from two different lines so that you weren't then mating brothers and sisters. Good luck with whatever breed you choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 hi all i love the chocolate orpingtons (large and bantam) ive discovered that there eggs sell for around £100 + for 6 Katie x Welcome to the Chocolate Orpington Admirers Club Katie ......£100 for 6, that's cheap we have them available near me for £200+ for 6 & they are bantams not big ones...I did consider going the route you have suggested when Buffie went broody, but managed to resist the temptation as I was worried about the number of boys I might get, though given their rarity so far I would probably have been able to move them on easier than the Light Sussex boys she hatched instead ! Just seen some on ebay at £122 for 6 in Bishop Auckland...I could have picked some up last weekend Apparently a pair went for £400 on a short while ago ooops that would be P.P.!!!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 I was going to mention the other blood line needed aswell, if you could find a breeder you could maybe swap birds, so you would both benefit from new blood lines? If you did want to go for chocolate orps I'd wait until spring and get some 'cheap'er birds or eggs from 2 different breeders and then breed from them If it were me I'd go for a less pricey bird, as its your first time hatching, so there is potential (not saying it will happen ) for something to go slightly wrong, also will your work pay that huge cost for the eggs? Maybe go for blue/green egg layers so they can talk about the genetics and breeding that goes into making 's - that what we did Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted October 3, 2009 Share Posted October 3, 2009 Choc Orps are only rare as they are new If you want to sustain a breed look for the older rare birds; Marsh Daisy, Dorking and Ixworth are all older rare breeds, better still the Dorking and Ixworth boys can be used as table birds If you want something thats the next big thing then Chocolate Silkies are bound to take off if someone can breed them true - 3 eggs went for £50 ish on ebay the other day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieD Posted October 4, 2009 Author Share Posted October 4, 2009 If you want something thats the next big thing then Chocolate Silkies are bound to take off if someone can breed them true - 3 eggs went for £50 ish on ebay the other day what are the genetics behind that then? is is a chocolate orp cockeral x with a black silkie hen? surely though even if someone gets the odd choc silkie from that they will still carry the black gene so wont breed pure choc offspring? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 The ones I saw advertised were by a split black Orp, so while being black he carries the chocolate gene too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted October 4, 2009 Share Posted October 4, 2009 I don't pretend to understand poultry genetics and if it were that simple, trust me, it would have been done by now. Grant Brereton, a leading poultry geneticist, has written a book for beginners called 21st Century Poultry Breeding but I have no idea if it touches on the chocolate gene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
