Mixed Breeds vs Pure Breeds

[Ra_]

I'm seeing that in the second generation of a crossbreed, I get about half the birds breeding true to the parents from the original mix. With the other half, I get some interesting genetic throwbacks. Mine range from white to black and I'm seeing it in all three hatches of 2nd generation birds.

 

[Double Yolked]

My flock is mostly purebred, I have a close friend and "chicken buddy" with a really mongrel flock. All mixes and all kinds. Her eggs come out almost all medium to medium large at best. While mine, mostly Barred Rock and Australorp tend to be a good size larger. She also seems to have a lot more colored eggs. And by that I mean some of the darnedest colors I've ever seen. Dark olive green covered in large chocolate brown splotches was the strangest. I didn't even know chickens could lay that particular coloration. Seems almost like the Easter egger/Ameraucana or colored egg genes dominate. Other than that her flock is healthy and happy and really pretty.

 

[ellend]

Friends who have both pure and mixed enjoy both, but say their mixed breeds lay better. Probably everyone's experience is different.

 

[Rattlerjake]

It depends on what you mean by that. If you're talking about sex links, then I suppose that's technically a mixed breed, but it's not really counted as one because the result is well-known. Generally it's referred to as a mixed breed if it's not a consistently made cross.
Replace "mixed breed" with "mutt" and you've got the idea down.

Oh BS! Mixed breed, hybrid, mutt are all the same! The only difference is some are done for a predictable outcome. Mixed breeds are often heartier and healthier, have increased genetic diversity, and produce eggs better than pure breeds, especially when it is an established hybrid. Three main reasons that pure breds are bought - 1) for show, 2) for uniform specific flock coloration, 3) value at live resale.

 

[MysticUniKitty]

View attachment 1740951 Here’s our chick if anyone was interested!

Awww!!!!

I'm new to chickens and really I'm not picky about breeding but I look at temperament. If it's being mean it's getting covered in ketchup!

Your chick is adorable! It will be interesting to see it as an adult

 

[starri33]

The closest that I've came to having a breed has been sex link which is a cross to begin with, I've received a roo and a couple of hens of unknown parentage and hatched from them, they are all adorable. I keep mine for eggs and entertainment. A Sexlink is one of the best layers there are.

 

[Jeffeff95]

Thanks for all of the different opinions everyone!
Another update, our little chick seemed to be getting lonely so we picked her up a few friends we got cheap from a farmer near us. Will post pics later!
Very nice colours though, I have never seen a silver chick before.

 

[Alberawi Chicks]

This is Vickie Jr. She's a cross between my old Gold Laced Cochen Rooster, Bellarmine, and my old Cream Crested Legbar Hen, Vickie. Vickie Dr. was born and raised in my back yard and turned 1 this past weekend. She lays a blue tinted egg, like her Mama did, and is a total sweetheart.
This year I have a silkie rooster and I'm only hatching silkie eggs. I think both mixed and pure bred chicks are wonderful, but if you're trying to sell them I'd definitely stick with the pure breeds.

 

[Jeffeff95]

This is Vickie Jr. She's a cross between my old Gold Laced Cochen Rooster, Bellarmine, and my old Cream Crested Legbar Hen, Vickie. Vickie Dr. was born and raised in my back yard and turned 1 this past weekend. She lays a blue tinted egg, like her Mama did, and is a total sweetheart.
This year I have a silkie rooster and I'm only hatching silkie eggs. I think both mixed and pure bred chicks are wonderful, but if you're trying to sell them I'd definitely stick with the pure breeds. View attachment 1747974

Thank you for sharing that picture, shes beautiful!

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Hey everyone!

Me and my girlfriend recently hatched our first chick which is a Brahma Easter hen mix.
I was curious as to people's opinions on breeding pure bread chicken vs mixed breeds. If there is any pro's or con's for either.

Thanks Everybody!

It really depends what qualities you are looking for.
For instance if you want to raise meat birds and don’t mind having to purchase new chicks every year then Cornish cross would be perfect. On the other hand if you want to make a one time purchase then you would be better off buying a small flock of Jersey Giants or Cornish chickens.
The same can be applied to egg laying. If you want lots of large eggs throughout the year and don’t mind having to replace your stock every 3-4 years then Red Sex Link pullets/hens are what you should purchase. If however you want lots of large eggs for many years to come then you would be better off purchasing Leghorns or Dominiques.
If you want blue or green eggs then you can buy Easter Eggers, which for the most part have a bunch of uniform traits, but may not always lay blue or green eggs. If you want to be guaranteed blue eggs then invest in true Ameraucanas, true Araucanas, or Legbars.