Can I mix breeds?

[mdbucks]

quite a few just give roos away. seems like all diferent breeds run different cost depending on demand. Bantums are usually more. rare breeds are more. and buying just one cost more than buying quantity. ALSO sexed chicks cost more(females being the higher priced ones). Only sure way of getting female only is to buy Sexlinked which means male/female are different colors when hatched.

 

[allen wranch]

Some feed stores that sell pullets will take back any roos that get into the bunch. You can ask ...

 

[AppleCrisp]

Thanks.
I've never would have thought about asking them if they take back roos. Thanks for the tip

I'm super excited!

 

[Whirlwind]

I bought banded chicks from Attwoods and got all hens. They are sex-link chicks so there shoud be no mix ups anyway. Be careful with bantys I got 3 roos from Attwoods out of 3 chicks, of course they were not sexed so you just take your chances. Most places won't sex banty's.

My feed store here in town will order you what ever you want so be sure to ask them if they offer this.

I have no experience with silkies. Some people love them.

 

[chickengirlnm]

I have a flock with mostly standard girls but mixed in there is a banty hen and a roo - they were all raised together and get along fine, the banty's do sometimes get picked on by the bigger girls but nothing major.
here is my roo with one of his girls

this is most of the flock the buff girl is older than everyone by at least 3 months , in the back you can see the banty eating along with everyone else.

Julie

 

[Hotwings]

You can mix bantams with standards and I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the bantams were dominate to some standards. Bantams are alot tougher than you think. Freebie had 5 mille fleur hens with a barred rock standard roo and the bantams loved him. If he tried to mate with them they usually were to quick. Bantams are execellent fliers and you might want to take this into consideration when buying them. Some are great layers and broodies. Most of got our first roo by accident. Feed stores generally don't sell cockerels unless they are meat birds. If you want just layers stay away from the cornish x's. These birds generally only live to be 8 weeks. There are only a few ways of dealing with an unwanted roo, and many are hard to sex untill you see them mate or crow. The ways are either you eat them, sell,give or pawn them away on someone else or keep them. At first cockerels may seem alright then later some will get nasty.

 

[AppleCrisp]

Thanks for all this great advice!

I'm sure I'll be able to find away to get my silkies!

I'll make sure to ask about ordering and to check about the sexes of the chicks.
I love the pics of you flock, very colorful.

I'll also find something to do with a roo if I get one.

 

[ginasmarans]

I have bantams in with my standards and there have been no problems. If you want to be sure not to get a roo,you will need to buy sex-linked chicks. There are several kinds to choose from. There are also other breeds which can be color sexed at hatch with good reliability,such as cucoo marans.

 

[palabeco]

MDBUCKS,

That looks just like my flock!

 

[Katy]

Here's some of my mixed flock. I know a lot of people like having only one kind, but I like the varieties of colors and shapes...