Mixing Chicken Breeds?

[Erikdaviking]

Hi there.

I have a mixed flock of Plymouth Barred Rock, Black Sex Link, and White Conchins, with a Barred Rock rooster...I'm thinking about letting one of the hens hatch chicks next year instead of buying them at the farm supply place, mostly because I think it would be interesting but also as a exercise in self sufficiency. Two questions I guess..

Can you encourage a hen to go broody, or do you just wait and see? Also, do they become broody at certain times of year or just when they feel like it?

My main question, though, is does it matter if the chicks come from the Barred Rock rooster and one of the Conchins or the Sex Links? I don't show or anything, mostly have them for eggs and will eat them after they stop laying...Will mixed breed chickens be generally healthy and lay well? I partially picked all three breeds because they are cold hardy, I live in Montana...Is that a trait that will survive mixing breeds?

Thanks!

 

[Flockincrazy]

Hi there.

I have a mixed flock of Plymouth Barred Rock, Black Sex Link, and White Conchins, with a Barred Rock rooster...I'm thinking about letting one of the hens hatch chicks next year instead of buying them at the farm supply place, mostly because I think it would be interesting but also as a exercise in self sufficiency. Two questions I guess..

Can you encourage a hen to go broody, or do you just wait and see? Also, do they become broody at certain times of year or just when they feel like it?

My main question, though, is does it matter if the chicks come from the Barred Rock rooster and one of the Conchins or the Sex Links? I don't show or anything, mostly have them for eggs and will eat them after they stop laying...Will mixed breed chickens be generally healthy and lay well? I partially picked all three breeds because they are cold hardy, I live in Montana...Is that a trait that will survive mixing breeds?

Thanks!

I'm not sure about broody hens but the rest I got no it doesn't matter and they are all cold hardy birds so it will be passed on mixed breeds are just as healthy as any other those are all good layers so it will be passed on

 

[Ribh]

I'm not sure my answer will be terribly helpful. I live in northern Australia & I have trouble all summer with my Barred Rocks going broody. The upside is they lay beautifully all winter. The warmer weather certainly seems inclined to send those with broody tendencies off.

I can't answer your other questions as I don't keep a rooster & don't specialize in cold tolerant birds, obviously.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Broodiness is instinctual; some hens will, some won't go broody. Never know which is which until one decides to hatch some babies.
Typically the broody hen will gather all the eggs, hers and the others and hoard them until she feels she has enough; you'll end up with a mixed bunch unless you know who's laying what, and remove any that you don't want to hatch out.
Since all of your breeds are cold-hearty, you won't be breeding that trait out, and might be getting even heartier birds.
If, you find yourself unwilling to hope for a broody hen, you can always take matters into your own hands with an incubator and brooder area (heated nursery area). If you go this route, plan their hatch date on your calendar to include the time needed to hatch and brood. On average the eggs will incubate 21 days (3 weeks), and they'll be in the brooder with heat for another couple weeks, and then without heat for up to another month depending on how cold you get there. Between incubation (3 weeks) and brooding (up to 6 weeks) time, they're usually boots on the ground in the back yard at ~2 months after you set the eggs.

 

[Erikdaviking]

Thanks for the info, sounds like I'm good to go...