What to breed with white Leghorn?

[21hens-incharge]

A thought........

Since BA's, leghorns, and Buffs are all iffy on going broody maybe a second small flock of say bantam cochin or silkies to use for their broody nature could help.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Wow thanks all! I was thinking Australorps over Buff Orps because of egg production, with the Lorps laying more... right? But with Buff Orps going broody much more often, I am thinking the slight egg drop is worth it with the Buff Orps...

Thanks! Please keep the comments coming.

EDIT: Well now I am thinking the opposite . With Buff Orps having not as good egg production... any cross would lose the egg numbers of the leghorn, and it wouldn't be as meaty as a Buff Orp. So maybe Lorps would be better as I would at least still have the high egg production in any cross... if one goes broody, great, if not, I can incubate. Chicken breeding is quite complicated

Here's my broody Orpington who hatched me some babies last year.

She is broody again, along with our Australorp this year.

 

[kickinthethroat]

Hmm, BAs and Buffs at least seem more likely than leghorns to go broody? My leghorns never have

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hmm, BAs and Buffs at least seem more likely than leghorns to go broody? My leghorns never have

If you wanted to, you can always mix silkies in with your leghorns, I'm not sure about sex-linkage with the crossing, but you'll surely have Broodiness added to their blood. My sister's silkie hen was broody for one, and a half months, & just started laying again a week ago.

 

[Newyorkrita]

I had bought novogens a few years ago as my first chickens.

I was told they are sex linked with the hens being brown in color and the males white in color. RIR roo x leghorn hen.

The novogens laid awesome extra large brown eggs and laid almost every day. Out of 5 one went broody soon after starting to lay. I had no rooster so broke the broodiness.

I didn't know the back round linkage of the Novogen Browns but I have heard they are really excellent layers.

Freedom Ranger Hatchery sells them.

 

[Newyorkrita]

Black Australorp x white Leghorn is what hatcheries use to create Austra Whites. They are excellent layers of white to off white eggs.

I believe Leghorns are a breed in which some carry a gene that inhibits brown egg pigment.

Austra Whites and California Whites are both fabulous Leghorn crosses.

 

[jlwquilter]

I didn't know the back round linkage of the Novogen Browns but I have heard they are really excellent layers.

Freedom Ranger Hatchery sells them.

That’s good to know in case I ever decide to go that route. I paid $25 each for pullet son the beginning of December that year. They started laying about 6-8 weeks later. They were friendly and would come when called. My daughter could hold and pet any of them. I would literally walk them around the acre surrounding the house. We still miss them (predator breached the run).

 

[Newyorkrita]

That’s good to know in case I ever decide to go that route. I paid $25 each for pullet son the beginning of December that year. They started laying about 6-8 weeks later. They were friendly and would come when called. My daughter could hold and pet any of them. I would literally walk them around the acre surrounding the house. We still miss them (predator breached the run).

Sound like really great birds!!

 

[kickinthethroat]

I think I've settled on some black Australorps.

Brown eggs, calm, broody more often than a Leghorn.

Plus they are great layers, so any offspring with my lh should be a strong layer.

I'm not ordering until after vacation though, so still time to change my mind.

Thanks all!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I think I've settled on some black Australorps.

Brown eggs, calm, broody more often than a Leghorn.

Plus they are great layers, so any offspring with my lh should be a strong layer.

I'm not ordering until after vacation though, so still time to change my mind.

Thanks all!

Okay. My Orpington lays twice a day instead of the usual one egg a day.