Would this work????

[lockedhearts]

I am having diffuculty finding Mottled Houdan Hens, from anywhere but a hatchery.
I got to thinking (yes dangerous I know) Could I possibly take a Mottled or Black Polish and try to breed that to My Houdan Rooster and eventually breed back a Motled Houdan Hen?

Here is a Houdan Hen:

Polish Hen:

They definitely look similar.

 

[blackclownfish16]

lockedhearts,

Heres my two cents. Yes you could but I think it would be better to stay in the breed. Heres some reasons A) There are no mottled polish lines in the u.s. and finding good self black bearded polish could be a challenge B) the polish is bred for beauty whereas the houdan is a utility breed and c) The houdan should ideally be a long lowish bird (similar to dorking) whereas the polish is more round and upright. Also you will have to deal with a huge number of culls and multiple generations because houdans have a leaf comb, 5 toes and a smaller crest that does not interfere with vision. I have bred my bantam mottled houdans for two years but I started with breeder stock and this was a tremendous advantage. Heres one of my hens crouched in the cold coop....haha.

 

[blackclownfish16]

Sorry thats so big

 

[lockedhearts]

Well Drat! I guess I will have to order hatchery chicks and hope to heck I get enough hens to make it worth it.
But then, how do I improve on Hatchery if that is all I have?

 

[blackclownfish16]

Keep looking for private breeders, you never know what might pop up. As for improving hatchery birds numbers is key! Order lots, cull hard upon arrival (ie 4 toed) cull harder as they grow (crests/beard) and keep culling till you have the best. Then breed lots and keep culling. It's a process but its for sure doable.

 

[lockedhearts]

So the search continues! I am planning on ordering at least 10 or 12, certainly I can't get all roosters out of those.
I ordered 3 last year, yep all of them roosters. I also had ordered 3 of a couple other breeds and got a rooster and 2 hens of each of those (figures)

Meanwhile, my poor boys just keep waiting and waiting!

 

[blackclownfish16]

It's a constant battle trying to get pullets. I ordered 30 self blue silkies from Ideal last year. After culling I kept the best 5 and lo and behold I got 5 roosters, good thing I have lots of extra black hens...lol

 

[lockedhearts]

Why is it that the breeds you really want hens in are the only ones that are straight run

 

[blackclownfish16]

Money, only the popular breeds get sexed and for bantams size is an issue. "Tis the law of the universe that which you most desire shall be the hardest to obtain."