Is there a list of "Bad Momma" breeds?

[Deltabwa]

I've tried searching for a list of breeds that are typically, of course not always, bad mothers, good mothers, bad setters, etc. And I was sure I saw one a while ago but can't find it now and don't think it was on here.

And does anyone have experience with Golden Campines that went broody?

 

[BantyChooks]

Just this. Commercial egg laying breeds have the desire to set totally bred out of them. No matter what you do or how sexy your rooster is these hens will never start setting.... ever.

You forgot to inform my black sexlinks of that little factoid.

 

[lazy gardener]

Just FYI, not directed at any one in particular: Sex link is merely a breeding term, meaning that the parents are selected, so that when bred together, the males will resemble the feathering of the female. For example, a RIR roo over a PBR hen will result in black sex linked chicks. All the chicks will have black down, but the males will have a white head spot, and will feather out with barred feather pattern. The females will not have a white head spot, and will feather out black, with perhaps a bit of red bleeding through the hackle feathers (from the RIR coloring). With RSL, The dark roo is placed over a white hen. The male chicks will have white down, and the female chicks will have dark colored down. You can read more about breeding your own sex linked chicks in the Sex Linked Information thread. The first post has wonderful charts that will help you to select appropriate crosses.

Hatchery, or production sex links are bred in mass. Each hatchery can have their own lines which go into producing the particular sex links that they sell. MMc may use different crosses than Cackle. But, all of their sex links are bred to be high production birds. These are the birds which have the reputation of laying prolifically for a season or two, before succumbing to reproductive issues.

Home raised sex links often result in birds with excellent health, and great productivity. They may or may not produce better than the lines which the parents were selected from. But, they will possess hybrid vigor. When breeding your own sex links, it's possible to mix and match to get a bird which meets YOUR flock goals. My goals are: a cold tolerant bird, with a small comb, non feathered feet, which produces a colorful egg. To that end, my EE roo, (see avatar pic) x Dominique results in a black sex linked pullet with tiny little walnut comb, solid black feathers, with no red bleed through, who lays aqua, olive, green, or brown egg. IMO, home bred sex links are no more prone to reproductive issues than any other non production bird.

Crossing 2 sex links together will NEVER result in an other sex linked chick. However, sex linking, with specific breeding protocols is what is used to produce the auto sexing birds, like: Rhode-Bar, and the famed Leg-Bars which lay the blue egg. Those X-Bars will breed true, and remain auto sexing from one generation to an other, IF it is a good pure strain, and no other (non auto sexing) genes are allowed to enter the gene pool.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Being a good or bad mom seems to be an individual trait. The only breed I found to be consistently good at it is silkies. Otherwise you just need to see.

 

[lazy gardener]

That was me. The time is nearing, I'm just wondering if I should keep an extra close eye out.

No matter what the breed, you always need to keep an extra close eye on them!

 

[lazy gardener]

Never, never, never say NEVER, George! There have been a few threads, not a lot, but a few threads started by folks who have had "never supposed to go broody" hens successfully set and raise chicks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That goes for every species doesn't it I just thought I read something somewhere that gave a general breakdown with things such as... good brooder but bad mother, bad brooder but good mother, good brooder and good mother.. etc., with basic generals. oh well. thanks

Pretty much. I don't think anyone can generalize mothering traits accurately by breed alone. Even within one breed of chicken the breeding behind it can dictate more what the actual bird will look and act like. In general breeder bred birds are chosen for things like broodiness and mothering, and looks, and hatchery stock focuses on egg production, but that's generalizing too.

Certain breeds like some bantam are bred for looks so things like broodiness isn't bred out of them like it is in a breed like leghorns leghorns. Still plenty of leghorns probably go broody and some are good mothers.

 

[Deltabwa]

Someone had a thread on their Golden Campine hen going broody.

That was me. The time is nearing, I'm just wondering if I should keep an extra close eye out.

Pretty much. I don't think anyone can generalize mothering traits accurately by breed alone. Even within one breed of chicken the breeding behind it can dictate more what the actual bird will look and act like. In general breeder bred birds are chosen for things like broodiness and mothering, and looks, and hatchery stock focuses on egg production, but that's generalizing too.

Certain breeds like some bantam are bred for looks so things like broodiness isn't bred out of them like it is in a breed like leghorns leghorns. Still plenty of leghorns probably go broody and some are good mothers.

Good points of course, Thanks

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

That was me. The time is nearing, I'm just wondering if I should keep an extra close eye out.

LoL had no idea it was you

 

[Deltabwa]

No matter what the breed, you always need to keep an extra close eye on them!

Well, I keep an eye out but an EXTRA close eye meaning 3x an hr instead of maybe 2x