Black Sex Link Buff Mutts?

[Starbawk]

I have 5 black sex link (RI Red x Barred Rock) pullets and a Buff Orpingron pullet and cockrel. Does anyone have experience breeding this combo? I have seen some threads on Buff/RIR and Buff/Barred Rocks and big look like good combos. I'm hoping for some good dual purpose offspring, meaty and good layers.

 

[QueenMisha]

They'll be pretty (varying shades of black mixed with buff and probably some that are messy red/buff color as well) and great egg layers. I doubt they will be GOOD meat birds unless your Orpington cock is from exhibition lines. Hatchery/production stock Orps have been bred down in size to produce better layers, and the same applies to BSLs. They'll be edible certainly but don't expect a lot of meat. If you want good DP birds, get yourself a good meat-breed cock from breeder's lines and cross him over production hens. I'd recommend a Buckeye, Standard Cornish, or Orpington cock - but again, from a BREEDER not a hatchery.

 

[Starbawk]

Well darn. Heh. Maybe we'll play some with that next spring. I've also got a Cornish rock cockrel. I could see if he's willing to breed with my orpington or BSL girl before he hits the stew pot, that'd make for a meatier bird! But I'm not sure if I want to open that can of health issue/poor laying worms.