What do yall think of this mix?

[BlueShadow]

I was reading a lot on light Sussex last night. what do you guys think of those? Problem is they aren't broody. so maybe cross them with a broody like bo or Cochin? Another problem is the roosters are so gorgeous my husband prob would fight me on butchering

Broodiness is a personal choice, but I think "not broody" is a great characteristic. It is so frustrating to be always breaking broodies. My compromise has been to get a few broody hens (I chose bantam cochins). That way, I have my broodies but my main birds keep laying eggs.

If you like light sussex, you can find that color pattern in many breeds - Columbian Wyandottes, light Brahma, Delaware, I am sure it is in Rocks and Cochins as well, I just can't remember the name of the color in those breeds. Usually "columbian" or "light". You may find one of those breeds better suited for your project.

 

[FrankHomestead]

Broodiness is a personal choice, but I think "not broody" is a great characteristic. It is so frustrating to be always breaking broodies. My compromise has been to get a few broody hens (I chose bantam cochins). That way, I have my broodies but my main birds keep laying eggs.

If you like light sussex, you can find that color pattern in many breeds - Columbian Wyandottes, light Brahma, Delaware, I am sure it is in Rocks and Cochins as well, I just can't remember the name of the color in those breeds. Usually "columbian" or "light". You may find one of those breeds better suited for your project.

I will read about those breeds! I want to breed for broodiness not for eggs since I'm only using them for meat.I already have a laying flock. And I really don't want to invest in incubation

 

[SunHwaKwon]

If you want them for meat and you want to perpetuate them, then I would suggest getting nonbroody and use another breed for brooding. When a hen is broody you are going to go about 9 weeks with no eggs from her (which means 9 weeks of no potential chicks for meat) from that bird. Even once she starts laying again they may not be fertile for another week. Broodiness tends to be contagious in a sense, so when you get to that point where half the flock is broody and may or may not actually be sitting on eggs but are not laying regardless, you may find yourself low on eggs to actually eat or hatch out. On top of that, some hens do not like other hens chicks so if you have multiple simultaneous broodies, you may end up with some chick massacres.

 

[BlueShadow]

I will read about those breeds! I want to breed for broodiness not for eggs since I'm only using them for meat.I already have a laying flock. And I really don't want to invest in incubation

Consider Cochins. They definitely are broody, and have a larger size. Delawares aren't very broody (maybe a little, depends on where you get them) but they used to be America's top broiler (before cornish cross). Rocks also can be good meat birds, not sure about broodiness there. Again, probably depends where you get them. For all these breeds, if you can find a local breeder, ask them about the characteristics of THEIR birds. Hatchery birds will tend to be less broody than the breed average, and geared more toward egg than meat production than the historical breed average. There probably are other breeds with this color pattern, I just don't know them offhand.

 

[FrankHomestead]

If you want them for meat and you want to perpetuate them, then I would suggest getting nonbroody and use another breed for brooding. When a hen is broody you are going to go about 9 weeks with no eggs from her (which means 9 weeks of no potential chicks for meat) from that bird. Even once she starts laying again they may not be fertile for another week. Broodiness tends to be contagious in a sense, so when you get to that point where half the flock is broody and may or may not actually be sitting on eggs but are not laying regardless, you may find yourself low on eggs to actually eat or hatch out. On top of that, some hens do not like other hens chicks so if you have multiple simultaneous broodies, you may end up with some chick massacres.

Wow yet again great advice!! Never thought of it that way!! Guess I should get one of those ugly silkies? lol!

 

[BlueShadow]

Wow yet again great advice!! Never thought of it that way!! Guess I should get one of those ugly silkies? lol!

HAHA I don't care for the appearance of silkies either, that's why I went with bantam cochins. Standard size cochins are broody also. There are several other breeds that are especially broody (many bantams tend toward this trait, as they haven't been as heavily selected for production traits). I just can't tell you offhand what those other breeds are.

 

[FrankHomestead]

HAHA I don't care for the appearance of silkies either, that's why I went with bantam cochins. Standard size cochins are broody also. There are several other breeds that are especially broody (many bantams tend toward this trait, as they haven't been as heavily selected for production traits). I just can't tell you offhand what those other breeds are.

Yea hopefully I can find a prettier broody lol I'm glad I asked you guys...because now I'm picturing something completely different that I'm sure I would be much happier with

 

[Krazyquilts]

You're right. baby steps...much more enjoyable and not overwhelming!

I keep repeating that to myself. We just bought a 50-acre farm and my husband says I'm trying to fill all 50 acres before we even move in! It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of trying all these new interesting ideas and things I've been wanting to do for almost a decade.

 

[Krazyquilts]

Wow yet again great advice!! Never thought of it that way!! Guess I should get one of those ugly silkies? lol!

We are raising about 25-30 guineas to take care of ticks and a lot of people keep saying how ugly they are. I always respond with, "I don't care what something looks like as long as it does a great job."

 

[FrankHomestead]

I keep repeating that to myself. We just bought a 50-acre farm and my husband says I'm trying to fill all 50 acres before we even move in! It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of trying all these new interesting ideas and things I've been wanting to do for almost a decade.

Congrats how exciting! yes pace yourself....better to do one project at a time, and do a brilliant job....than have 20 projects going on at once that never seem to get finished, and by the time you're overwhelmed you just throw it together to be done with it and it's not at all what you pictured...haha