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Quality
Introduction
The quality of a bird isn’t judged on health alone. Birds should also match the key traits of their breed as outlined in the Standard of Perfection (SOP). That’s not just opinion—it’s fact.
Being an ethical breeder means holding both yourself and your birds to that standard. It’s misleading to market or sell birds as a certain breed if they don’t meet the basic traits that make that breed unique (ex: beard and muffs on an Ameraucana).
Breeding to the Standard of Perfection doesn’t mean every bird I raise is “show quality” and it doesn’t mean the only goal is to show them. Showing is only one small piece of the puzzle. This article will focus on quality pertaining to the Standard of Perfection and open shows.
Breeding with the Standard in mind is about improving and preserving the breed.
Hatchery Quality (HQ)
Hatchery quality birds often have poor type and may show multiple flaws or even disqualifications (DQ). In an open show, disqualifications usually mean the judge will remove the bird from participating and will not give it a score.
These birds are best for individuals that do not care about quality, pedigree or health, but do care more about costs. Hatchery birds are usually cheap and commonly available year round whereas breeders are more finnicky about when they have availability and are more costly.
Though, do keep in mind that hatchery birds do not always come from a hatchery. Many "breeders" will source their lines from hatcheries or degrade a prestigious line by breeding birds with poor type and faults. They then pass on these birds as pure and "breeder quality" or in some cases, "show quality." Just because a bird comes from a "breeder" doesn’t automatically make it breeder quality.
The best thing you can do is take time to learn the standard for the breed you’re interested in. That’s the only way to be sure you’re choosing birds that truly represent their breed. It's become very common to have people new to a breed be tricked into buying hatchery quality birds or mixed breeds.
The main difference between a hatchery quality bird and a pet or breeder quality bird is in how closely they match the breed. A hatchery bird may carry some resemblance, even if it’s far from correct, while a better quality bird looks obviously better. It’s like looking at the same object twice—one with glasses and one without. One is sharp and recognizable, while the other is blurry and undefined.
Pet Quality (PQ)
Pet quality refers to birds that may come from good lines and even have decent type, but usually carry one or more disqualifications.
There are generally two kinds of pet quality:
- Birds that do not have any genetic deformities or defects that affect their quality of life. For example, a Silkie that is otherwise correct but has a single comb instead of a walnut comb—which is called for in the SOP. These birds may not be ideal for breeders who are further along in building their lines, but they can still be useful for someone just starting out or for those willing to work through these faults.
- Birds that generally should not be bred, even though they don’t have issues that harm their well-being. An example would be a bird with a wry face, wry tail, duck foot or slipped wing. These are typically genetic traits that do carry onto their offspring. In addition, the amount of work to fix these issues can delay a breeder years of their life.
Breeder Quality (BQ)
Breeder quality refers to birds that have no disqualifications.
They may have minor faults that could cost them points in a show, but nothing serious enough to disqualify them. These birds generally have good type and are suitable for breeding programs.
Breeder quality exists on a spectrum rather than two separate categories like pet quality. Some birds may meet the basic requirements to be correct but still lack good type, while others are both correct and show strong type. There will also be birds that are anywhere between those two.
It’s important to understand that just because a bird is breeder quality doesn’t mean it will be a good breeder. The same goes for higher quality birds—pairing two birds together randomly can still produce offspring of lesser quality. Breeding is both a science and an art; it’s much more than a simple math problem like 1 + 1 = 2.
Show Potential (SP)
Birds with show potential are essentially breeder quality birds with a little extra. They usually have exemplary type and good temperament. These are not birds that are sold often and they are not ever going to be cheap.
A judge is less likely to give high marks to a bird that bites, kicks, refuses to pose and/or tries to escape through the cage bars. In some cases, a judge may completely disqualify a bird for this.
And while conditioning can help before a show, some birds are simply poor candidates because of their temperament towards humans—specifically towards strangers and children.
Birds with show potential often display their abilities early on. It’s similar to the arts: Talent can get you far and practice can get you further, but talent AND practice can take you even further.
Show Quality (SQ)
Birds that are considered show quality are those that have entered a show and earned a placement. There are many nuances that experienced exhibitors consider, such as the type of show, the level of competition, and the specific placement achieved. However, for simplicity's sake, it merely refers to a bird that has placed in a show and conforms to the SOP in its entirety.
This does not mean that they are without faults. Show quality birds are merely the face of the breed and are good representations; they are not perfect specimens.
Being SQ also does not mean that they will make the best breeders either. As mentioned previously, breeding is much, much more than throwing two good looking birds that together.
A common misconception about show quality birds is that eggs, chicks, and grow outs (4 to 18 weeks old) can be considered show quality. This is not including egg competitions.
In reality, it’s impossible for them to be show quality because the SOP and shows are for mature birds (6+ months). Though, there are cases of birds younger than 6 months entering, they do not typically fare well against their older counterparts that have more time to grow and fill out.
Eggs, chicks, and grow outs may come from show lines or even be the offspring of two champions, but that alone doesn’t guarantee quality. Young birds can still develop flaws or disqualifications as they mature, no matter who their parents are.
That said, purchasing from a breeder who has invested time, money, and effort into building their lines is always worthwhile.
Closing Thoughts
Quality depends on many factors and is only accurate for the age at which the bird was evaluated and sold.
This is why it’s so important for anyone entering the hobby to research and truly learn about the breed they’re interested in. Without that knowledge, you’re completely at the mercy of the breeder—and unfortunately, many breeders are unethical and do not prioritize the breed standards despite claiming that they do.
It’s also important to use common sense. Hatching eggs and chicks are always a risky endeavor, and once again, you’re at the mercy of the breeder’s word (ex: fertility rates). That’s why it’s crucial to thoroughly vet the breeders you’re buying from and to keep reasonable expectations about what you’re purchasing and who you’re purchasing it from.