Mixed breeds

[hmbelk]

I've got 5 pure bred (all different breeds) and 2 mixed breed chickens. My Australorp is sitting on 4 eggs which are due to hatch tomorrow (this evening I heard one cheeping so they may be hatching even now). I'm so excited to see what these little biddies will look like. My pure hens are Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpington, and Australorp. I also have 2 Australorp/Buff Orpington mixes. My roo is a splash BLR Wyandotte. Here are some photos of some of my flock.

Australorp/Buff Orpington mix


Buff Orp in front, my roo, and the two Australorp/Buff Orps



My roo and the Australorp/Buff Orp mix - can you tell who my favs are?

 

[Curnow]

These are 5 week old mix from a Sultan hen and Silver Spangled Spitzhauben rooster. Cuties for sure. Hope they are girls!

 

[Bdchickenfarmer]

Anyone have picture of speckle Sussex Rooster crossed with any of the following hens
-buff Orpington
-silver laced Wyandotte
-dark brahma
Thanks in advance!

 

[Coop de Grass]

I've got 5 pure bred (all different breeds) and 2 mixed breed chickens. My Australorp is sitting on 4 eggs which are due to hatch tomorrow (this evening I heard one cheeping so they may be hatching even now). I'm so excited to see what these little biddies will look like. My pure hens are Speckled Sussex, Buff Orpington, and Australorp. I also have 2 Australorp/Buff Orpington mixes. My roo is a splash BLR Wyandotte. Here are some photos of some of my flock.

Australorp/Buff Orpington mix


Buff Orp in front, my roo, and the two Australorp/Buff Orps



My roo and the Australorp/Buff Orp mix - can you tell who my favs are?

Beautiful! Good luck with the hatch!

 

[Coop de Grass]

These are 5 week old mix from a Sultan hen and Silver Spangled Spitzhauben rooster. Cuties for sure. Hope they are girls!

Stunning combination! Do they all have black crests?

 

[dunnmom]

I used the chicken color calculator to see if my mixed flock would produce cool looking chicks. I have Buff O's, Silver Laced Wy's, and Barred Rocks. If I get a roo from any of those breeds, chances are I'll end up with at least half pure black chicks, according to the calculator. Wonder what type of roo would give me a more colorful bunch. I have no problem with black chickens, but if I had to sell chicks, I don't know if they'd be harder to sell, or if they would have more trouble staying cool in the summer. Anyone have any wisdom to share?

 

[Curnow]

Stunning combination! Do they all have black crests?

Yes they all have black crests. Still no sign of combs on any.
They are pretty good sized for their young age, so I'm also hoping they will be a bit bigger than mama Sultan.

 

[Curnow]

I don't have any Spitzhauben hens, so can't speak to egg size or productivity. My 3 Sultan hens however have medium sized eggs, and they actually lay pretty well. Got eggs from all 3 most every day all summer. I'm getting 1 or2 a day now that the days are shorter. I don't supplement light.

I don't completely agree with some "facts" about eggs and breed "statistics".....

I have a huge Light Brahma hen that lays a beautiful lightly spotted small - medium egg. Her eggs have remained the same size consistently. She has been laying for over a year now. I have hatched several chicks from her and have nice big pullets and 1 rooster. The ones that are Light Brahma hen x Cuckoo Marans rooster are very large. I am hoping the cross will give me a bit bigger eggs from the Marans side. None are laying yet, so time will tell.

 

[Curnow]

I used the chicken color calculator to see if my mixed flock would produce cool looking chicks. I have Buff O's, Silver Laced Wy's, and Barred Rocks. If I get a roo from any of those breeds, chances are I'll end up with at least half pure black chicks, according to the calculator. Wonder what type of roo would give me a more colorful bunch. I have no problem with black chickens, but if I had to sell chicks, I don't know if they'd be harder to sell, or if they would have more trouble staying cool in the summer. Anyone have any wisdom to share?

I used the chicken calculator for my last hatch of mixed chicks. These are Silver Spangled Spitzhauben roo over white Sultan hen. I was fully expecting pure black or white chicks. I got these funky BEAUTIFUL spangled Sultan type babies! More pictures a few posts back!


I have also did the calculator for my Spitzhauben roo over Light Brahma hen cross. I got just what it said I would....double laced half spangled. That cross gave me small crest, lightly feathered blue legs and small duplex (almost buttercup) comb.

As far as black chickens go...I have a black sex link hen that doesn't seem to be any more or less heat or cold tolerant than any of my other colors. She is mean however...LOL! No problems with my mostly black easter egger either. My only other black ones I have are my Easter Egger/Spithauben cross that are about 3 months old now. They seamed to do fine in the heat. Mine have access to shade, lots of water in coop and yard, and I keep a box fan running on super hot days for extra air circulation. My very large Cuckoo Marans hens also seem to be very heat and cold tolerant.

 

[Curnow]

I used the chicken color calculator to see if my mixed flock would produce cool looking chicks. I have Buff O's, Silver Laced Wy's, and Barred Rocks. If I get a roo from any of those breeds, chances are I'll end up with at least half pure black chicks, according to the calculator. Wonder what type of roo would give me a more colorful bunch. I have no problem with black chickens, but if I had to sell chicks, I don't know if they'd be harder to sell, or if they would have more trouble staying cool in the summer. Anyone have any wisdom to share?

I would think anything (male or female) from a Silver Laced Wyandotte rooster would make nice looking offspring. I like the sound of a Wyandotte roo over a Buff hen. I bet that would be a pretty bird! I'm hoping to cross my Buff Orpington hens with my Spitzhauben roo or his son who is Spitzhauben/Easter Egger next spring. My buffs just started laying!

I also have a bantam Naked Neck rooster that I am thinking about trying to cross with one of my large hens. Don't really want too many more bantam hens, but hoping I would get a nice moderate sized naked neck cross.