Getting more breed specific

[mikey1957]

I currently have a motley crew of different chickens. Barred Rocks, Easter Eggers, Cinnamon Queens, black sex links, leghorns, and some I don't even know what they are. I finally got everyone integrated and in one coop and all getting along. Some were much older and no longer laying eggs and were the most difficult to get into the second coop. Now I want to be more breed specific and have ordered a Blue Orpington Rooster and some Blue Orpington hens along with some Black Australorpe hens. Don't know what will come of it but hoping for the best. I researched to try to find the most docile rooster I could find (cause I had a bad experience with a Barred Rock rooster and had to rehome him due to aggression.)

I don't want to incubate eggs but just let nature take its course so in hens I was looking for somewhat of a broody nature. Have no idea what the chicks from the Australorps will be but excited to find out. Has anyone else cross bred these guys? Did I make good choices? LOL.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I haven't had a single Australorp go broody, you may have better luck with the blue Orpington hens going broody. Australorp were developed from black Orpingtons so they are fairly similar.

As far as raising a good rooster it's best not to handle him too much to keep his natural wariness of you.

 

[mikey1957]

Interesting...I read that Orpington and australorps were both broody...May have to incubate. Had a buff Orpington go B roody a couple of times a year but I didn't have a rooster so she just sat there for nothing for days and days till I made her go outside. Then she would puff up and stalk off. Lol.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Breeding can help determine whether a hen will go broody more than breed. Breeder stock will often be chronically broody, and hatchery stock has it bred out of them more.

Certain breeds haven't been tweaked as much by hatcheries so some breeds will still go broody. Hens prone to going broody often don't lay as well as those that don't.

Most people buying from a hatchery want eggs, and those buying from a breeder want pretty birds, so source is important if you are wanting a certain trait.

 

[Rye]

With hatchery stock it's hit and miss and questionable if it's actually the breed. If you get a good broody keep her, but don't expect it. There are so many variables and there are tons of differences within a breed.

Breed descriptions are not gospel. Don't fall for it and just focus on your individual birds.

Have an incubator ready.

 

[lazy gardener]

Sounds like you have some good birds ordered. Enjoy.

 

[junebuggena]

All three of my hatchery sourced Australorps are broody.

 

[AllenK RGV]

Sumatras reportedly are broody. No clue if this is usefull or trope. Best wishes!

 

[oregonkat]

Sheesh, I have a genetically mysterious olive egger that is broody ALL the time, including just about a week ago in the middle of this crazy weather. I dont let her sit because I sell my eggs and I need all of them but perhaps in the spring I might give her a few and put her in the broody box. My old, old Australorp has never been broody. I guess one really never knows when a hen is going to oblige.