pure or cross bred chickens

Jetty · **Joined:** Sun Aug 08, 2010 2:36 pm **Posts:** 2

I have decided to get 6 chickens for eggs only not to breed as I am not getting a rooster. My question is should I get pure bred or cross bred chickens? which is better for egg production?

Roova · **Posted:** Mon Aug 09, 2010 7:28 am

Some purebreds are known for their good egg laying capabilities like the Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and Australorp (there's probably heaps more), but even then within the breeds each bird is an individual. You can sometimes find utility strains of a breed which might be more inclined to lay better than the 'show' strain.

The commercial layers, like the ISA Browns will lay consistently and sometimes even through winter when other birds stop. The downfall is they will more than likely have a shorter life because they are known to suffer from reproductive problem often from the two year mark on.

Have you thought about a combination of the two? The commercial layers can sometimes be a bit plain on the eye, wheras there is lots of colour and variety in the purebreds. Its a good idea to try to get them all at the same time because an established group of birds can pick on new comers (plus you'll have to quarantine to make sure the newies are sick and going to pass on something to your other girls).

It might also help to know if you'll have kids arounds which will be wanting to touch or hold them. Some of the more skittish purebreds which lay well, might not appreciate being chased by kids etc, like the Leghorn, Silver Spangled Hamburg or Campine. You don't want them going off the lay due to stress.

Good luck, its so exciting picking what breed of bird you're going to keep.

Jetty · **Joined:** Sun Aug 08, 2010 2:36 pm **Posts:** 2

Thanks for such details, fantastic. I had thought of both but as my focus is on eggs I had favoured commercial hens but I didn't know about the shorter life span and that is a cost factor I need to take into account if I have to constantly replacing them. Is there a lot of difference in price to buy pure bred laying hens and commercial laying hens?

Roova · **Posted:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:23 pm

Often when buying purebreds you would be buying the culls from a breeder/shower where the bird might have a slight defect which makes them inappropriate to show. For example the wrong eye or leg colour, or the size might not be right. They are definitely more expensive than commercial layers.

Personally I have paid anything from $16 - $20 for commercial layers at point of lay (have to wait a couple of weeks before they start laying) and I've found purebreds from $30 up. Once a hen ages you'll find them slightly cheaper, and if you bought ex battery hens they would probably be cheaper still.

Purebreds can really range in price depending on the quality of them. Even if you only plan to have them in the backyard the breeder will still expect an amount of money to cover costs. They have mostly put a lot of time and effort into getting the quality they have. If you keep an eye on farmstock classifieds you might find backyard breeders of purebred selling them for less.

Another thing to consider is how economical your breed is to feed. Some good layers like the leghorn can lay very well on far less feed than other purebreds, they have a better food to egg ratio. Some of the larger purebreds like Orpingtons and Light Sussex might not lay as frequently and can eat quite a lot.

If you were to buy commercial layers and sell them every two years (for example) you would probably find you would still be better of financially than some purebreds which don't lay as often and cost twice as much. But, its nice to have different looking chooks so a combination can keep everyone happy!

Are there any breeds in particular you've been thinking about?

rena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:42 am **Posts:** 5

When I started out I had the same dilemma but I quickly realised the value of pure breeds and the need for all of use to do our bit to save them. I also believe if you’re going to feed chickens then they might as well be good ones

Roova · **Posted:** Wed Aug 11, 2010 5:05 pm

It depends on your definition of good though.

To me "good" to a backyard person with limited space might be a chook which lays almost daily and doesn't eat you out of house and home :lol:

I've tried both and although its nice looking out and seeing buff orpington's (for example) in the yard, they basically eat twice as much as the other chooks and would be lucky to lay three eggs a week. I'm not so sure how good that is! They are expensive to keep and there isn't much return.

I'm also not sure how buying someone's culled purebred for the backyard is saving that breed? One thing you're doing is providing money to someone who doesn't want the bird anymore ..probably because it wasn't good enough for them to keep. Also if you can't keep a rooster you can't increase numbers of that breed to save anything.

I think when people talk about saving a purebred, they are referring more to the rare breeds? I have wondered aboout this ... if there are breeds of birds becoming rarer what is it about them that people don't want? Are they not good layers? Do they eat too much, difficult to keep, hard to breed with? I'm not sure why backyarders should buy one of these to save them, if they aren't a good bird? Generally true rare breeds seem very hard to come by as they are hoarded by the breeders and they would probably break the pocket to buy even a cull.

rena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:42 am **Posts:** 5

No I disagree even buying someone’s culls you are still buying and supporting pure breeds and with the number already lost its great that breeders out there sell their culls so it spreads the breed around.

Roova · **Posted:** Thu Aug 12, 2010 9:13 am

Are there certain breeds you're referring to when you say there are already numbers of them lost?

rena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:42 am **Posts:** 5

Numbers and Risk Status of different livestock breeds
recorded in the Domestic Animal Database
(DAD-IS database, March 2005)

Extinct
16 - Goats
181 - Sheep
48 - Chickens
4 - Ducks
2 - Geese

http://www.smallstock.info/issues/diversity.htm#tab1

rena · **Joined:** Tue Aug 10, 2010 9:42 am **Posts:** 5

Also

there are an estimated 963 different breeds of chicken that are recognized (see Table 1 in the discussion of Domestic Animal Diversity). Of these, 48 are now thought to be extinct, and a total of 429 are listed as either endangered on the critical list (DAD-IS). Only 221 breeds are thought to be not at risk (and there is insufficient information on a further 183 breeds). This large number of extinct, endangered or critical breeds of chickens gives considerable cause for concern over the loss of potentially valuable characteristics of these breeds,

http://www.smallstock.info/breeds/chickens.htm

AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

pure or cross bred chickens

Who is on the Forum