moduck,
by breeding crossbreeds, we have the ability of taking traits from two different types of birds and hopefully increasing the vigor of the offspring who will present those traits we bred for.
For instance, I'm wanting to use the LARGEST silkie cockbird that I can find, and AI my standard blue cochin. Being that silkies have a record for broodiness, and my standard cochin has already shown to be broody, I'm hoping to gain a larger bird (from the cochin), with hard feathers (from the cochin) that will show an increased desire for broodiness (from the silkie).
All of my crosses are bred for a purpose. My Light Brahma x Black Australorps are my heaviest birds. They are the best winter layers I own, and the males from the cross are delicious. We did the cross to increase the egg production in the winter and for extra meat. The crosses are much more vigorous and hardy than the "standard" breeds that were used for the cross. Mind you, the birds used in the cross are production strains, but, it makes GOOD eggs and GOOD meat!
by breeding crossbreeds, we have the ability of taking traits from two different types of birds and hopefully increasing the vigor of the offspring who will present those traits we bred for.
For instance, I'm wanting to use the LARGEST silkie cockbird that I can find, and AI my standard blue cochin. Being that silkies have a record for broodiness, and my standard cochin has already shown to be broody, I'm hoping to gain a larger bird (from the cochin), with hard feathers (from the cochin) that will show an increased desire for broodiness (from the silkie).
All of my crosses are bred for a purpose. My Light Brahma x Black Australorps are my heaviest birds. They are the best winter layers I own, and the males from the cross are delicious. We did the cross to increase the egg production in the winter and for extra meat. The crosses are much more vigorous and hardy than the "standard" breeds that were used for the cross. Mind you, the birds used in the cross are production strains, but, it makes GOOD eggs and GOOD meat!
