Does it matter the breed of hen and rooster when breeding? -newbie question

[kuulgrl]

We are going to have 3 isa browns and 3 red laying hens (not too sure on this breed).

Does it matter what kind of rooster we get?

We really want to get a Barred rock rooster just because they are beautiful. The chicks are just for our kids to experience everything.

(I did a search for this but didn't come up with much, sorry if this is a repeat)

 

[loveourbirds]

as a rule of thumb any rooster will give you fertile eggs. however you dont need a rooster for the hens to lay, that is a common misconception. a rhode island red or new hampshire red rooster (not the isa browns)over a barred hen will produce a sex link, male chicks will have white dots on their heads.

 

[gryeyes]

Unless you are trying to breed something specific, it doesn't matter one whit which type of rooster you have in your flock.

I have an extremely varied & mixed flock, mostly because I have several hens of specific breeds with a couple different, mixed breed roosters. The resulting chicks are even more mixed. I've got bantams and large fowl, clean & feather-legged, an sometimes it is fun to try to guess which rooster fathered them.

 

[Old Rando]

The statement that loveourbirds made regarding sex link hybrids is not correct. You cannot make sex link hybrids with a barred male and red female. It MUST be a red male and barred female.

 

[loveourbirds]

The statement that loveourbirds made regarding sex link hybrids is not correct. You cannot make sex link hybrids with a barred male and red female. It MUST be a red male and barred female.

you are right, thank you for the correction LOL, sometimes my fingers get ahead of my brain. corrected original post so it wont confuse anyone.

 

[Old Rando]

I'm sure most of us have done that friend.

 

[kuulgrl]

I figured, just wanted to ask and verify. ;-)

We picked up the first 3 yesterday and picking up the other 3 tomorrow. Still on the lookout for a rooster, but not rushing. I knew I didn't need a rooster for the hens to lay. I don't know how I knew, but it never even crossed my mind. LOL

The whole family is excited to have the chickens here! Husband has been out there picking them up to get them used to him. My daugher is catching the grasshoppers and tossing them in the coop. And my son squeals every time he gets to pet one. LOL

 

[loveourbirds]

i think chickens could be the key to world peace! i do have one daughter who is afraid of the larger chickens and turkeys, but the other daughters will sit on the swing and watch them for hours.