Things about "mut chickens" (not close to a purebred)

[MotherGarfield]

My family bought 13 chickens from a very unexperienced breeder who has many types of chicken that mate and the genes get all weird. Each chicken was unique and had its own personality. But they weren't tame.

 

[TallChickMagnet]

Is there a problem with mixed breeds in the chicken world? I know that when it come to pure beed dogs, the more pure most breeds the more fragual and sickly they seem to become. People may like the way they look, but is it for the best?

 

[jeepguy982001]

i don't think there is anything wrong with mutt chickens. I think its more of a personal choice same as dog people. Some love mixed breeds while others would want anything to do with a dog unless it is a certain breed.

 

[Texokie1]

Speaking genetically, the more diverse the genes inherited from the parents, the more hardy the chickens should be. (That's why crosses of purebred cattle, like brahman and angus for brangus do so well...same principle applies...) Speaking from personal experience, I can tell you, my "mutt" Easter Eggers are doing better than the purebreds I have...growing faster/feathered faster/etc.

 

[Simmonsfunnyfrm]

Mutt chickens are fun because you never know what kind of colors you're going to get (eggwise and plumagewise) and they seem to be healthier than pure breeds in my experience. I have 5 Easter Eggers, which are just mutts with the blue egg gene, and they are the friendliest and healthiest in my flock. I have all kinds of other pure breeds. Recently, I've had a sickness of some sort going on in my coop and it has claimed the lives of about 5 of my pure breeds The EEs are not phased. Maybe you can bribe them into friendliness with treats! Oh, also I have Cinnamon Queens which are egg laying hybrids (may as well call them egg-efficient mutts) and none of them have gotten sick either. It's taken my RIR cockerel, several of my Brahmas and one silkie.