/ Register

  1. If this is your first time on BYC, we suggest you start with one of these three options:
    Raising Chickens Chicken Coops Join BYC
    If you're already a member of our community, click here to login & click here to learn what's new!

Seeking opinions on hatching crosses (RIR and BO)

Discussion in 'Incubating & Hatching Eggs' started by chickenannie, Mar 27, 2008.

Most Liked Posts
Page 1 of 2
  1. Mar 27, 2008 #1
    chickenannie

    chickenannie Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,156
    21
    231
    Nov 19, 2007
    Pennsylvania
    I like having purebreds, but since I haven't kept my RIRs and my BOs separate and I have one roo of each, I'm sure a few of the eggs I may be crosses. I'm not a breeder, obviously, but I'd like to hatch more chickens for egg-laying and to add to the flock, and I'm wondering if there are reasons NOT to hatch eggs that may be crosses. Or reasons TOO have crosses.

    One roo is purebred RIR, but the hens are actually half RIR and half (i think) Plymouth Rock. The other roo is pure BO as are those hens.

    Opinions?
     
  3. Mar 27, 2008 #2
    Katy

    Katy Flock Mistress

    16,319
    21
    331
    Jun 29, 2007
    Kansas~50+ yrs of chickens
    There's nothing wrong with "mutt" chickens. From that mix of breeds you should get some very good layers. I like my purebreds, but I also like my mutts!! [​IMG]
     
  5. Mar 27, 2008 #3
    chickenannie

    chickenannie Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,156
    21
    231
    Nov 19, 2007
    Pennsylvania
    Do mutts end up looking peculiar?
     
  7. Mar 27, 2008 #4
    speckledhen

    speckledhen Intentional Solitude Premium Member

    74,227
    2,475
    666
    Feb 3, 2007
    Blue Ridge Mtns. of North Georgia
    Well, I know one reason to cross a RIR roo over a Buff Orp hen--my Meg! She is more Buff Orp than RIR in every way, except her color, but she came from exhibition size breeder birds, not hatchery stock. My DH and I love her!
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  9. Mar 27, 2008 #5
    Katy

    Katy Flock Mistress

    16,319
    21
    331
    Jun 29, 2007
    Kansas~50+ yrs of chickens
    Most of the time they're very pretty.
     
  11. Mar 27, 2008 #6
    chickenannie

    chickenannie Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,156
    21
    231
    Nov 19, 2007
    Pennsylvania
    Meg is beautiful! Kind of like a fluffy RIR.

    Uh-oh Katy, you said "most of the time"...
     
  13. Mar 27, 2008 #7
    Tuffoldhen

    Tuffoldhen Flock Mistress

    7,505
    19
    301
    Jan 30, 2007
    WV
    I have a Buff/RIR hen that is my best layer!!...Buff Orp Roo over a RIR hen...she is small for some reason but lays me an egg dutifully everyday...
     
  15. Mar 27, 2008 #8
    Katy

    Katy Flock Mistress

    16,319
    21
    331
    Jun 29, 2007
    Kansas~50+ yrs of chickens
    Quote:I just said most of the time because I'm sure there's been an odd mix out there at some point in time that wouldn't win any beauty contests!! ALL the mutts I've seen have been nice looking chickens!! [​IMG]
     
  17. Mar 27, 2008 #9
    chickenannie

    chickenannie Chillin' With My Peeps

    3,156
    21
    231
    Nov 19, 2007
    Pennsylvania
    Thanks for the clarification. The farm where I work has crosses of Sebastopol geese with Toulouse Geese from last summer's hatching, and they look OK, except they have just a few string sebastopol feathers sticking out kind of funny. they look more like toulouse.
     
  19. Mar 27, 2008 #10
    mamaboyd

    mamaboyd Chillin' With My Peeps

    803
    0
    149
    Jun 6, 2007
    Kendal.Ontario,Canada
    Meg is beautiful!! My hens are the same color, I don't know what they are mixed with as they are a hatchery special breed. If I crossed my hens with a barred rock rooster, would they pretty much stay the same color??

    This is one of my hens I want to cross with a barred rock.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 27, 2008
Page 1 of 2

BackYard Chickens is proudly sponsored by