Orpington mixes?

[turkey girl 0964]

I have two Orpington roos and two Golden Laced Wyandottes hens, two Barred Rock hens, a RIR, an Austrolorpe, three Jersey Giants, Sapphire Gems, and one EE. I am planning on breeding them and maybe selling the chicks. Has anyone had any of the mixes and what do they look like? If I sell their chicks, how much should I sell them for? Thanks!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Hmmm...I think as just "barnyard mixes" you wouldn't be able to sell them for as much as purebreds, but you could maybe get a bit more if you emphasized the friendliness and quiet nature of the orpington PLUS the _______ (insert cool characteristic) of the hen's breed. Also you may do better if you can ID each hen's chicks so people can know which mix they got.

But for the average suburban chicken keeper, you'd likely have a hard time selling them for more than a "pure bred" feed store chick since they're mixes. Unless you did some impressive marketing about your super cool hybrids.

You could also consider selling hatching eggs. The "oooo what will they look like" factor may interest people, it's less work on your part, and people won't be bugging you about sexing baby chicks/vaccines.

Also, people looooove the blue and green eggs, so the easter egger's chicks could probably sell for more. They'd be green egg layers with a buff orpington dad.

 

[turkey girl 0964]

That is awesome! I looked up some of the mixes and they were really pretty. THanks!

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Yeah, I think if you had photos of how the mixes could turn out, info on how amazing they are, etc, you could sell people on Unique and Fancy Hybrid Chickens. Like those poodle/lab mixes people pay soooo much money to own.

But you'd have to know which mix is which (tell eggs apart or separate your hens in the morning so you can be sure whose egg is whose). Otherwise it's just a "grab bag" barnyard mix.

 

[turkey girl 0964]

Could I be able to tell them apart when they are chicks?

 

[AmeliaBedelia]

Maybe? But it looked from the little googling I did that the buff coloring would come through pretty strong in most of them, so maybe not.

The orpington/barred rock crosses might be a sex link hybrid...worth checking into. That would be a plus to people who can't own roosters where they live. If so, you could hatch out the easter egger and barred rock eggs for green egg layers and guaranteed pullets perhaps? But double check me on that...I am NOT a chicken genetics expert!

And if you don't sell your chicks straight run, you'll end up with a lot of roosters to dispose of...orpington/barred rock crosses would work as meat birds, but not sure if you're up for that.