Hatchery stock for sex link?

[Cozy_Cabin_Farms]

Hello! I am considering starting up a sex linked pen. I intend to use a Rhode Island Red rooster with various hens (Delaware, Rhode Island White, Barred Rock, and Silver Laced Wyandotte).

Do you think I would have trouble using hatchery stock?

 

[AinaWGSD]

It really depends on your breeding goals. If your goal is egg layers that are sexable at hatch hatchery stock is probably fine. If you're looking for dual purpose birds and planning on processing the males for meat you'll probably be disappointed.

 

[Cozy_Cabin_Farms]

It really depends on your breeding goals. If your goal is egg layers that are sexable at hatch hatchery stock is probably fine. If you're looking for dual purpose birds and planning on processing the males for meat you'll probably be disappointed.

Can you elaborate on that? Why wouldn’t the males be good for meat?

 

[AinaWGSD]

They'll be ok for meat, you can eat them just like any other chicken. But hatchery stock is focused mostly on egg production (the more eggs they lay the more chicks the hatchery can hatch and sell) so the qualities that make a good meat bird tend to be lost. They'll be scrawny compared to dual purpose breeds from a breeder and especially scrawny compared to commercial broiler breeds.

It really depends on your expectations. And, frankly, the commercial cornishX broilers have set a standard for meat birds that heritage breeds just aren't genetically designed to meet. And if you're planning on selling meat birds it's likely hatchery birds are going to fall way short of your customers' expectations.