Does anyone else have crossbred chickens?

[Lonnie]

Three months ago a weasel attack eliminated all of my RIR layers. In haste I got a dozen fertile eggs from my neighbors. Their rooster is Buff Orpington. And their hens are White Rocks and Black Astralorpes. What a cross! Im assuming they will make good layers. What do you think?

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
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[jeslewmazer]

BO x WR or BA. I would think that the offspring would be good (probably better than just good). I'm guessing around 5-6 eggs per week....but this is only a guess.

 

[GreenGoddess]

In checking with Henderson's breed chart (http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html) The egg rating for BO and WR are both 3 .. For a BA it is 4.. So, based on that, I would think you could expect anywhere between 3-6 eggs per week depending what the actual cross is.. I would say most likely 4-5 per week as an average... But, sometimes getting more or less would not be unusual..

Goddess

 

[Big Red Hen]

Not yet, but we do have Ply. Rock x Leghorn, Ply. Rock x Dominique and Red sex-link x RIR and Red sex-link x Black sex-link and Red sex-link x Leghorn in the 'bator.

 

[Davaroo]

There are very few pure bred chickens, the only one coming to mind being the Asian Jungle Fowl and a few of its immediate kin. That is the source of all domestic chickens we know, ALL of which are cross bred.

But I know what you meant

From what you say, they should be adequate layers. But it takes serious and determined effort to improve egg laying abilities - it doenst just happen. Without that effort, it is a crap shoot. Considering the hodgepodge nature of the birds you've gotten, my guess is your neighbors havent invested that effort.

 

[Terri O]

I think I love my "mutts" best! They are so colorful and fun to watch. (and you can tell them apart easily!) The fun part about chickens to me is that you can mix and match and if they dont turn out you can always eat them!

Terri O

 

[raimnel]

OMWord!

I almost spit my coffee all over the computer! to funny to funny!!!!!!


We're waiting for a hen to be broody so we can see what a silkie easter egger looks like??????

 

[kelidei]

I have 13 mixed breeds. 9 of them just hatched. I had 5 under a broody and 4 in a bator. They are about a week apart and I have to admit just like the other poster--- it is fascinating to see what you end up with. Below are the new ones. First photo are crosses between a Columbian Wyandotte and Blue Andalusian roos with Partridge Rock, Dark Cornish, White Wyandotte and White Rock hens. It looks like I ended up with a couple of chicks with barring

and these two cuties are a cross between my BO roo and my EE pullets

 

[scooter147]

And in all my years of experience the mixes are healthier.