RIR, sexlinks, Leghorns, Hampshires

[spiral_72]

And more questions <sigh> my reading just isn't answering the questions I have.

So I currently have five RIR and six sexlinks and a bantam (whom I had always thought was a runt! HA!) all 18 weeks old. We bought the chicks from TSC around easter.

Is is ok/wise/acceptable to have different breeds..... breed? RIR with sexlinks, RIR with Leghorns and Hampshire Reds with....... whatever? Or should I have them separated so I don't get a bunch of weird chickens with weird behaviors laying weird eggs? I'm only interested in meat and eggs at this time. I hope to have some chicks too... not really to have raise a farm but I think 20 chickens would be about right

One day I'm going to be ANSWERING questions rather than just asking

 

[canada-goose]

It's perfectly fine. The chicks will be mutts, but they probably won't have any real problems.

 

[Year of the Rooster]

Yep perfectly fine. No different than breeding a Lab with a Poodle or a Tabby with a Calico

(ok technically there is a difference but you get the idea

Same species just different characteristics

)

 

[Alabama ee]

Quote:
What you have are all good egg layers. Crossing them will probably make them better and stronger. You will get some unusual colors. For some people, that makes it fun wondering what colors they will get. Some of the prettiest birds I have seen are crosses.

 

[HBuehler]

We have a few hundred chickens.My best layer is a mutt hen Black Sex Link crossed back to a RIR roo cross.We get offers on her all the time but she's just not for sale

Leghorns improve the laying and size of nearly all breeds and the cross breed improves the hardiness of the leghorn.