Bantam to Standard Sussex/EE/ BR/Barnevelder/Orpington Mix, Opinions?

[Samloveschicks]

Hi All,
A friend of mine has 20 bantam chicks, and about 6 are looking like roosters. There are two/three EE roosters (one red, one barred-ish browns, blacks, white, red) and several white columbian sussex and maybe a buff columbian sussex as well. I have 6 standard hens, three of which are over a year old (one is 2). These are BO, BR, and barnevelder. I also have 3 pullets, two EEs (beige, orange, brown stripe and one barred-ish, both wild type I believe) and a silver laced wyandotte.
I talked to my friend about taking one of her roosters since she cannot keep them all, and I would really love to try hatching some eggs from a cross, assuming he can figure out the big ladies. I think the sussex males would have an easier time, but one of the EE cockerels is HUGE at 2 months in comparison to the rest and already tries to crow .
What would be the potential for these crosses? I would love some green tinted eggs, but I know its a crapshoot with EEs as far as the blue gene goes. Would any of these crosses give me sex linked birds? Anyone have examples of these mixes? Does not have to be bantam, of course.
Thanks for any responses!! Here are some pictures of my girls. All of these mixes are for fun as I know my girls are not show quality!
Sam

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would probably pick one of the Easter eggers for more variety from your offspring. You should get green or blue eggs out of most from my experiences.

 

[Samloveschicks]

I would probably pick one of the Easter eggers for more variety from your offspring. You should get green or blue eggs out of most from my experiences.

Thats what I've been leaning towards, especially because of the fun feathering that EEs tend to have. Plus, those slate blue legs are so attractive in my opinion. Thanks for the response!

 

[Amer]

The barred rock hen with any rooster would produce sexlinks, but otherwise no sexlinks.
What color is the Sussex? If he is speckled, their offspring will be buff, very interesting as well.
With the Barnevelder it will be similar to red laced.
With EE it will produce something of a red Columbian. (most likely)
With Barred Rock it will produce leaky barred males and black females with red leakage.
I can't tell you about what the EE rooster but the possible colored eggs might make choosing him worth it.
He actually won't produce that much variety because it's all coming from one rooster, but its fine.

 

[sealer39]

I’d also pick the EE for variety. I’ve got a mixed flock of large birds with one White Leghorn cockerel and an EE cockerel. I already have white, cream, light brown and green eggs and I’m hoping for blue and chocolate eggs by January.

 

[Samloveschicks]

The barred rock hen with any rooster would produce sexlinks, but otherwise no sexlinks.
What color is the Sussex? If he is speckled, their offspring will be buff, very interesting as well.
With the Barnevelder it will be similar to red laced.
With EE it will produce something of a red Columbian. (most likely)
With Barred Rock it will produce leaky barred males and black females with red leakage.
I can't tell you about what the EE rooster but the possible colored eggs might make choosing him worth it.
He actually won't produce that much variety because it's all coming from one rooster, but its fine.

The sussex are buff and white columbian coloration. Thats really interesting that the speckled produce buff offspring! If the sussex is red, it would impart that red to a barnevelder cross possibly? Sounds very pretty! I think I need to get more into chicken genetics.
So sex links only with my barred rock, which is really nice for sorting any birds I might want to keep. I always like black birds, too.
The colored egg possibility is really exciting, though! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!

 

[Samloveschicks]

I’d also pick the EE for variety. I’ve got a mixed flock of large birds with one White Leghorn cockerel and an EE cockerel. I already have white, cream, light brown and green eggs and I’m hoping for blue and chocolate eggs by January.

Gotta love the energetic breeds! I think I am leaning towards the EE choice, but I really do love the leg feathering on the sussex. I suppose it is more maintenance on the birds, though. I hope you get your blue and chocolate eggs! Since you are in Louisiana, too, I know that there is a marans breeder in Thibodaux that has some really nice dark eggs. I should have sourced my birds from him! When I am out of the suburban environment, I'll be adding some marans to my flock as well. I think he has black copper and lavender. Sometimes, he has blues too!

 

[sealer39]

Gotta love the energetic breeds! I think I am leaning towards the EE choice, but I really do love the leg feathering on the sussex. I suppose it is more maintenance on the birds, though. I hope you get your blue and chocolate eggs! Since you are in Louisiana, too, I know that there is a marans breeder in Thibodaux that has some really nice dark eggs. I should have sourced my birds from him! When I am out of the suburban environment, I'll be adding some marans to my flock as well. I think he has black copper and lavender. Sometimes, he has blues too!

Thanks, I’ll remember that. I have three FBCM now that haven’t started laying yet. They are from Privett Hatchery so I don’t know how the egg color will turn out.

 

[MROO]

View attachment 1937169 View attachment 1937172 View attachment 1937173 View attachment 1937175 Hi All,
A friend of mine has 20 bantam chicks, and about 6 are looking like roosters. There are two/three EE roosters (one red, one barred-ish browns, blacks, white, red) and several white columbian sussex and maybe a buff columbian sussex as well. I have 6 standard hens, three of which are over a year old (one is 2). These are BO, BR, and barnevelder. I also have 3 pullets, two EEs (beige, orange, brown stripe and one barred-ish, both wild type I believe) and a silver laced wyandotte.
I talked to my friend about taking one of her roosters since she cannot keep them all, and I would really love to try hatching some eggs from a cross, assuming he can figure out the big ladies. I think the sussex males would have an easier time, but one of the EE cockerels is HUGE at 2 months in comparison to the rest and already tries to crow .
What would be the potential for these crosses? I would love some green tinted eggs, but I know its a crapshoot with EEs as far as the blue gene goes. Would any of these crosses give me sex linked birds? Anyone have examples of these mixes? Does not have to be bantam, of course.
Thanks for any responses!! Here are some pictures of my girls. All of these mixes are for fun as I know my girls are not show quality!
Sam

First, your ladies are REALLY pretty! Then, if you're in this for the fun and the possibility of more color, whether it's in the plumage or the eggs, I'd go with an EE cockerel. You never know what you'll come up with, so every hen/roo combination would be like Christmas morning!