Mating two different breeds?

[farmerkylie]

I'm new at chickens and was wondering if my road island red bread with my buff Orpington what would the chicks be? Would I get mixed looking chicks or would some chicks be RIR's and some would be BO's?

I love info if anyone has extra advice on breeding/hatching chicks as well!

 

[Fred's Hens]

They'd be mixes/mutts. Some may "favor" one side more than the other, but they'd be mixed/mutts. The Orp has white skin while a red has yellow skin, so you see, they'd be mixed up, for sure.

However, if all you want is some backyard chickens for eggs or meat? Sure. They'd be just fine. But they wouldn't be any breed.

 

[farmerkylie]

They'd be mixes/mutts.  Some may "favor" one side more than the other, but they'd be mixed/mutts. The Orp has white skin while a red has yellow skin, so you see, they'd be mixed up, for sure.

However, if all you want is some backyard chickens for eggs or meat?  Sure.  They'd be just fine.  But they wouldn't be any breed.

So could I sell the chicks? Just as mixed breeds? Or is that a bad thing?

 

[luvmypets]

If your selling mutts its not a bad thing! They just arent pure bred.

 

[Fred's Hens]

No, it is not a bad thing. Mixed chicks sell. BUT finding buyers for chicks isn't always easy. Finding buyers of mixed chicks may prove even a bit harder, no way of knowing your market area.

Hatching chicks and then hoping to sell them may result in your have quite a few your must raise yourself. Cockerels aren't easy to sell and mixed cockerels can be quite difficult. Be sure you know what you're getting into with hatching chicks you don't personally want to keep.

 

[AmericanMom]

I raise mutts, I have a blue orpinton that covers a bunch of different breed of hens. I grow out the pullets til they start to lay, keeping a few for myself and I have no problem getting $15. a bird. they rooster are always free or go to freezer camp.

 

[farmerkylie]

I raise mutts, I have a blue orpinton that covers a bunch of different breed of hens. I grow out the pullets til they start to lay, keeping a few for myself and I have no problem getting $15. a bird. they rooster are always free or go to freezer camp.

What is freezer camp? Oh okay! That sounds like something i would atleast like to try out. I don't mind a few chicks for a while! I'm trying to find out what breed of rooster I have so I can buy the same breed of hens so I atleast can have some purebred.

 

[luvmypets]

Freezer camp is well a way to say prepare the roo for dinner.

 

[bobbi-j]

What is freezer camp? Oh okay! That sounds like something i would atleast like to try out. I don't mind a few chicks for a while! I'm trying to find out what breed of rooster I have so I can buy the same breed of hens so I atleast can have some purebred.

As Fred's Hens indicated, you really need to think this through. Just because someone else on the board here gets $15 for pullets, does not mean that you are going to. You need to know your market area. You also need to have a plan for the chicks you don't sell. They won't be cute and fuzzy forever. Are you ready to butcher the cockerels you can't get rid of, or are you going to say, "I can't kill him! I raised him from the time he hatched, and now I'm just too attached."? Do you have room to comfortably house the chicks you hatch if you can't sell them? This is not something to just jump into. When I have a broody hen, I let her hatch out a clutch. I do this knowing that I will be processing the extra cockerels and keeping the pullets as layers, with the plan to process the older hens. I know how much room I have, and have a plan to keep that space from becoming overcrowded. Hopefully you'll have a market for your chickens and can continue this venture.

 

[farmerkylie]

As Fred's Hens indicated, you really need to think this through. Just because someone else on the board here gets $15 for pullets, does not mean that you are going to. You need to know your market area. You also need to have a plan for the chicks you don't sell. They won't be cute and fuzzy forever. Are you ready to butcher the cockerels you can't get rid of, or are you going to say, "I can't kill him! I raised him from the time he hatched, and now I'm just too attached."? Do you have room to comfortably house the chicks you hatch if you can't sell them? This is not something to just jump into. When I have a broody hen, I let her hatch out a clutch. I do this knowing that I will be processing the extra cockerels and keeping the pullets as layers, with the plan to process the older hens. I know how much room I have, and have a plan to keep that space from becoming overcrowded. Hopefully you'll have a market for your chickens and can continue this venture. 

How much room does each chicken need? Then I will know how many I can put to a pen. I also let them free range all day and at night just put them in their coop. I want to know as much as possible before I try and have chicks then not know what to do when I get over cramped and have too many roosters. So all the advice helps!!