Hmm, what should we cross/breed?

[valdalefarm]

Hello all, we'd like to set up a few "arranged marriages" over the winter for eggs to hatch out next year. We have a few different breeds to choose from, wondering what some good or interested crosses would be.

For our cockerels, we have 2 Welsummers, 2 Ameraucanas, 1 Brown Leghorn, and 1 unknown, some hybrid we suppose (friends gave to us, had shown up in a Tractor Supply purchase of some "generic" layer chicks).

For our hens, from last year's set, we have mostly some RIR and ameraucanas, with a few each buff orps, dark cornish, and a handful of others. From this year's pullets, we have 15 Gold Comet and 10 each of Brown Leghorn and Welsummer.

We'd like to do some straight-up Ameraucana mating, b/c we'll be needing more of those next year, and probably some Welsummer-Ameraucana crossing for a bit of an olive egger (though not as strong as using a Maran I wager) - is it better to use one type for male and one for female, or about the same either way?

As far as making some decent production birds out of the rest (we are a small farm, and sell eggs), any suggestions? Would it be best to stay away from breeding the unknown rooster and the Gold Comets, as these are crosses already?
Thanks!

 

[mstricer]

For good layers I would assume go with Leghorn on Leghorn. If you like the colored eggs go for the AM's and Wellies.

 

[valdalefarm]

While I like the look of a few white eggs mixed in a carton or a basket, a lot of our customers at Farmers' Markets seem to associate white with commercial and brown with from-the-farm, so I don't want to do too many more white-egg layers for next year. A mix of hues and colors though looks real nice in the carton!

 

[Hangtown Farms]

While I like the look of a few white eggs mixed in a carton or a basket, a lot of our customers at Farmers' Markets seem to associate white with commercial and brown with from-the-farm, so I don't want to do too many more white-egg layers for next year. A mix of hues and colors though looks real nice in the carton!

depending on the wellies you can get nice dark olive eggs. Not all wellies lay real dark eggs.

 

[lynn1961]

The best crosses for egg production we have had so far have been welsummer roo over an easter egger hen. they have made beautifuls hens that lay an olive/teel colored eggs, some of the eggs have some spots, these mix girls lay an egg thats average sive is 2 1/2 inches long, the hens are not very big though ( less feed )
The current projest is Jersey giant and Buff orpington roos over easter eggers, buff orpington, jersey giant, production red and welsummer hens, this cross hatched out mid october, the chicks are growing out well, they are pretty little things. The goal of these crossing were for a larger framed bird for the table, and hens that lay larger sized eggs.