BSL Rooster / RSL Hens, White EE hen

[Emptywagon2]

I want to hatch some of my eggs... is it ok to hatch eggs with these crosses? I don't care if they are mutts. I just want some good egg layers. Thanks!

 

[Ridgerunner]

It is fine to hatch those crosses. There are a tremendous amount of different patterns and colors you could get with those. I think you will really be pleased with appearance of what you hatch.

If the parents are from good egg laying flocks, then the offspring will almost certainly be good egg layers. If the parents are not from good egg laying flocks, then the offspring probably won't be real good.

If you got the sex links from a hatchery, odds are really good they are good egg layers. Different hatcheries sell different sex links. Some sell commercial breeds, especially developed for the commercial egg laying market. These are generally smaller than other full-sized chickens and often have a body shape a lot like a leghorn. These have been developed to lay a lot of Grade A Large eggs. Some hatcheries make their sex links by crossing specific dual purpose breeds. These chickens are a little larger but are still pretty good egg layers because the hatchery chickens they use as the parents are good egg layers. For example, most Black Sex Links from a hatchery that does not use the commercial breeds would be a Rhode Island Red rooster over a Barred Rock hen, but there are several other breeds that could be used, such as a New Hampshire rooster over a Dominique or Cuckoo Maran hen. It is possible to make sex links from chickens that are not great egg layers, but hatcheries don't do that. If they are from a hatchery, they will almost certainly be from good egg laying stock.

A white EE does not tell me a whole lot. EE's are not a breed, they are just a chicken that should have the blue egg gene and should lay a blue or green egg. How well she lays again depends on her parents. If she came from a hatchery, the odds are she will lay fairly well. That's not because of some nefarious underhanded plot by the hatcheries to take over the world and change life on earth as we know it, but because the hens that lay more eggs tend to have more eggs hatch and most hatcheries select breeders from the chickens they hatch. Over time, the flock should become better egg layers. So if your EE's are from a hatchery, they will probably lay pretty well. If they are not from a hatchery, it is less certain, but I had a red EE not from a hatchery that was a tremendous egg layer. She provided a fairly large green egg practically every day.

This is probably more information than you wanted. All I'm trying to say is that you cannot be absolutely certain since you are dealing with individual animals and they are all different, but the odds are pretty good you will be real happy with what you get from those crosses, both from egg laying and appearance. Good luck. And remember to post photos when they hatch.

 

[Emptywagon2]

Thanks...I can't wait to see what hatches. I am setting about 50-60 eggs on the 1st. I knew that with none of the being full breeds that I could have some interesting looking birds.

 

[teamsunbelt]

Here are two of my mutts. They are about 3 weeks in this picture. The hens were Golgen Comet, the rooster was a Bantam Cochin. They both have feathered legs. Unfortunately both are roost, so I will not get to test the egg laying ability.

 

[Emptywagon2]

Very cute chicks!! So far, my hens are laying really good..just missing a day or two since the first part Sept. My white EE has muffs & a beard. She lays a very light pink egg. She has only been laying for a month now but has done well. The two RSL are hatchery chicks. The EE & my roo are from a local chicken lady...not sure where her flock came from.