Which is more productive: hatchery or show quality?

[Aziara]

I'm going to start off by saying that I don't have a lot of experience with show quality birds, most I've been around have been hatchery stock.
I was just wondering if there were less egg production in show birds, since they are bred for body shape, whereas hatcheries are obsessed with quantity and don't care about the SOP.
Also, are show birds more delicate due to inbreeding?
Mostly I'm just curious, but I'm also considering trying to create a new autosex bird https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/55-flowery-hen-recipe.1255363/ And I don't know whether to shell out the big bucks for a show quality bird, or just stick with hatchery stock and breed for production rather than body shape.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Definitely hatchery, show bred are often poor producers and most will go broody repeatedly. When breeding for show the focus is usually on looks and correct form and color. Egg production falls far on the bottom of the list in many cases.

 

[BantyChooks]

Depends on the breeder. If you get them from a good source, they will be hardy, healthy, and productive. If they're weak and poor layers, then go shop somewhere else because that person is backwards in their priorities.

My PC hens lay almost an egg a day and are healthy and stocky. They were and are still bred first and foremost for utility. They aren't show quality themselves but they're from show stock and could be bred back up to show standards, I think.

If you are mixing breeds, you might as well get hatchery birds since you won't be mixing birds with the same standards.