Hatchery Specialities In Exotic Chickens

Hatchery Specialities In Exotic Chickens AG WORLD Ag World 7-5-19 If you (or your children) have been wanting some exotic chickens to adorn your farmstead, a hatchery in Missouri that specializes in rare and exotic breeds can supply you with some real attention-getters. Clinton Hatchery, located in Clinton, hatches and ships out a million chicks a year, and one-fourth of them are rare, exotic, and bantam breeds. The birds are shipped by air to customers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Delivery takes just 24 hours or less to most places, and 100% survival is guaranteed. Customers must order at least 20 chicks because it takes that many to supply enough body heat while in transit, but they can mix any number of breeds to make a total of 20 birds. All exotics and bantams are sold straight run (not separated into pullets and cockerels). Hatching is done from mid-February to mid-October. The hatchery has some 20 rare breeds for sale that include the following: •Araucanas ù noted for laying eggs in a range of colors from pink or green to olive or blue. The birds, originally from Chili, come in white, black, buff, blue and red. •Yokohamas ù an ancient silver and black Japanese breed noted for tails that have been known to grow 20 ft. long. •Black Langshans black with a large tail and feathered legs. Originally from China, they weigh up to 10 lbs. and lay dark brown eggs. •Houdans ù an old French breed noted for its feathered bonnet. Bred for meat and eggs for the markets of Paris, they're white skinned and lay white shelled eggs. • Andalusians ù blue colored birds developed in Spain. They're of the highest egg producers among the rare breeds. • Dominiques ù once America's most popular breed, they're barred gray and white and are very rare. The price on exotics is $1.00 to $1.50 each, depending on breed and quantity ordered. The hatchery also sells a rare breed assortment of 25 for $17, a "booted" special of 25 for $24, and a "top hat" special of crested breeds (25 for $19). Air postage is additional. Bantam breeds available include Silkies, Dominiques, Cochins, Brahmas, Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds. Prices range from $1.50 to over $2. The hatchery also sells the books "Chickens in Your Backyard" ($6.75) and "The Family Poultry Flock" ($8.25). "Clinton was once the chick capital of the nation with 14 hatcheries," says Sara Williams, Clinton Hatchery office manager. "With the end of rail service, all but Clinton Hatchery went out of business. It would be difficult to stay in business today without air service. Newly hatched chicks can live for 72 hours, and we have made shipments that arrived in Alaska in 26 hours." For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Clinton Hatchery, Inc., Box 548, Clinton, Mo. 64735 (ph 816 885-8500).

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