"Breeding mutts worsens the poultry hobby for everyone"???

[Erica]

I tend to agree with the OP and others who feel that crossbreeding has its place.

There are many arguments in favor of purebreds, but it seems to me the one that truly holds water (outside meeting show standards) is that the various traits are much more predictable between parent and offspring. However utility crossbreeding can also produce similar reliability in terms of production, vigor and other useful traits if one is selective with parent birds.

Perhaps more crossbreeders are careless about labeling a bird something it isn't, or not noticing which rooster fathered what chick. Perhaps more purebreeders are careless about retaining utility traits and relying on antibiotics and vaccines to counter inbreeding depression. I doubt either side has a greater claim to being ethical.

Luckily for all of us it takes all kinds of breeding to keep the poultry world interesting. What makes it less interesting is when someone tries to tell someone else how they should run their own hobby. Freedom to pursue a hobby in whatever way a person pleases is a hobby's greatest charm.

Enjoy your chickens, whatever they are.

 

[cassidy22]

I have many different breeds of hen, and several different roos. I hatch whatever I get. Occasionally I'll separate a purebred roo with some of his hens and hatch some straight breeds. I only hatch for myself, and I don't sell birds.

It drives my husband nuts because it makes it hard for us to track the age of birds, when I get these mixes all the time. BUt there is a term called "hybrid vigor" and sometimes a cross brings you a bird that might be healthier than a purebreed, especially if they have been overbred to the same genetic stream, bringing out weaker traits in the animals over time.

I like my crosses, just because it's fun to see what I get, and if they all come from good laying stock, than they should be good layers for me. It's a nice hobby, and I don't think anyone can tell me to not do it. I am not a commercial breeder and have no intention of selling hathing eggs or baby chicks.

 

[yinepu]

Quote:
X2

and here's one of my mutts.. love this guy.. and i know the "recipe" that made him!
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack9.jpg
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack4a.jpg

Gorgeous roo! Looks like a Marans cross. If he had a beard, I'd say he was an Easter Egger; I have a Brown-Red Ameraucana roo who has similar coloring. Whatever cross he is, he is a handsome fellow!

thanks.. he's a big baby and a perfect gentleman with everyone... and nope.. no Marans or EE in him anywhere!

 

[Moochie]

Quote:
X2

and here's one of my mutts.. love this guy.. and i know the "recipe" that made him!
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack9.jpg
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack4a.jpg

My two cents.. Gorgeous!

 

[Patricia Jane]

Quote:
X2

and here's one of my mutts.. love this guy.. and i know the "recipe" that made him!
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack9.jpg
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x340/Seasins/Poultry/Jack4a.jpg

He sure is gorgeous!!! I'd like to have him.

 

[Stacykins]

Crossing is what made many of the breeds we know and love today. The Chantecler has a well documented 'recipe' for creation. I am sure there are others that have the same. The Araucana (U.S. standard) is a mix of two different birds, the rumpless and cleanfaced blue egg laying Collonca, and the tufted/tailed brown egg laying Quetro.

But I do think purebreds should be improved and maintained. Once the originals are gone, we can mix the recipe again, but it took generations to develop in the first place to make it perfect, you know? And breeding a rare purebred with another breed can weaken the available genes, since that offspring isn't the rare purebred, it is a mutt, and can't be used in a pure breeding project. I understand careful outcrossing to strengthen a trait, but then you have to work out the undesirable traits that result. More than the average backyard flock owner is willing to put into their birds.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Purebred breeding is important because we can predict some behaviors, maturity rates, body size, egg color, laying rate, personality, and many, many other things. Those predictability factors are very important to me.

No, it isn't "wrong" or stupid to make barnyard mixes. It't been done for a long, long time. Still, when I want a Barred Rock? A Spotted Sussex? That is what I want because I love the breeds. I am pleased that folks also think so and maintain the breed. I'd hate to see it gone. Same with RiR, White Rocks, and a dozen of my other all time favorite breeds. But, that can be said without being rude, unkind or unthinking.

 

[goobhen]

Quote:
I really do not believe selling them would be a problem. Not being honest about what you are sell would though. JMHO

Oh I know what you're after Taz. You're just trying to butter me up so I'll sell you some of my fabulous trahma eggs for hatching. Keep dreaming.

Okay Gritsar: Just what is a Trahma?

My opinion is, unless you are selling eggs/chicks as a certain breed, but they are truly something else, that is wrong! I understand people who are raising, breeding to the breed standards, heirloom chickens....I understand to that person, mutts are wrong, as they want the best of their breeds. When I first got chicks, I went for Dominiques, my mom had them when she was a child. In my ignorance, I had them mixed with brahmas, red & black stars.. Not one of my hens have hatched an egg in two years. They are broody, but nothing.... I now know, if I want a particular breed and want to improve that breed, I would just have that breed. Even if I were to breed a perfect bird, it would be just for me.....I am a true backyard chicken person. I am envious of all of your babies, though....why hasn't one egg hatched? I do not have an incubator... DH IS NOT going to get me one for my birthday! He want 1 roo & 10 hens (really I want the roo and I am going to have one) My chickens are 2 1/2 years old, 14 hens & I am getting 8- 11 eggs a day....

Everyone should just remember the golden rule. Treat others as you want to be treated!

 

[gritsar]

Fred's Hens :

Purebred breeding is important because we can predict some behaviors, maturity rates, body size, egg color, laying rate, personality, and many, many other things. Those predictability factors are very important to me.

No, it isn't "wrong" or stupid to make barnyard mixes. It't been done for a long, long time. Still, when I want a Barred Rock? A Spotted Sussex? That is what I want because I love the breeds. I am pleased that folks also think so and maintain the breed. I'd hate to see it gone. Same with RiR, White Rocks, and a dozen of my other all time favorite breeds. But, that can be said without being rude, unkind or unthinking.

Exactly.​

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Oh I know what you're after Taz. You're just trying to butter me up so I'll sell you some of my fabulous trahma eggs for hatching. Keep dreaming.

Okay Gritsar: Just what is a Trahma?

Well, it's like this.... When one of my SF hens went broody I gave her some eggs from my brahma hens to hatch. I really wanted some chicks from my late great brahma roo Thor. Thor was having leg issues and I knew we'd have to put him down soon. I was positive that the eggs I gave the SF were from my brahma hens. This was before some of the hens from my younger flock started laying in the brahma coop.

So my SF hatches some fine looking chicks, but not until they hatched did I realize that my other rooster - a turken - had been visiting the brahma girls when Thor wasn't looking.

So I have a couple of young hens running around that are turken/brahma crosses or trahmas, as someone on the forum nicknamed them. Big, naked neck birds that lay huge eggs.