The Problem With Hybrids

Nothing wrong with hybrids per se Redbarn as long as you are aware of and comfortable with the fact that they have a life span which is on average two years less than a pure bred chicken and so you will be losing birds with a much greater regularity. I have as I said in the original post had quite a few hybrids over the years and indeed one of the loveliest chickens I ever owned was a Goldline but now I am at the point that I want chickens that lay and live longer, purely a case of personal preference really.
 
They don't all die by three years, though! I'm still getting eggs from my mixture, including two who are 4-5 years old. The main thing is to find a reputable supplier who can offer strong and healthy stock to start with.
 
Didn't say they did Marigold if you re read the post I said they have a life span which is on average two years less than pure breeds, that figure comes from having a good look at what people accept as average life expectancy for both sets of birds across the forums and the internet.
 
Yes of course you're quite right Dinosaw. But actually, if someone starts out with a few hybrids and they do gradually die a year or two sooner than purebreds might have done, this does make it possible for the keeper to achieve a balance in the flock of younger and older birds so they're not left with half a dozen non-laying pensioners a few years dos the line. And it brings forward the day when they might have room to add new birds from another breed on the basis of growing experience and choice.
I think that a strong and healthy hybrid, possibly not from one of the highly-engineered commercial egg layer breeds, and from a good supplier, kept in clean, outdoor conditions and sensibly cared for, would have a good chance of a relatively long and trouble-free life. At least that's been my experience.
 
I think we are talking at complete cross purposes on this one Marigold. What you say is absolutely correct but where I am coming from is that a lot of people get very attached to their chickens and when those chickens die they get very upset as they come to view them as pets rather than egg producers. Put another way if you could buy a dog which would live for 4 years but would be cheaper and easier to source or a more expensive and harder to source dog which would live for 6-7 years which would you advise people to buy?. As long as people are aware that hybrid birds have a drawback with regards to longevity and less laying seasons they can weigh that up against them being more prolific layers and cheaper and more widely available birds (though if you are taking them to the vets to be PTS then they don't actually work out cheaper at all)
Knowledge is power as they say and armed with accurate information people can choose the right birds for them I'm certainly not telling people what to buy or saying this bird or that bird would be better for them that is for them to decide.
 
Funny, isn't it? 'Hybrid' has connotations of being specially crossed for super powers (egg laying for up to 18 months usually.) But if we were taking about dogs then cross breeds live longer. Yet a 'pedigree' chicken is not thought of as a 'hybrid.'
I know, it depends on the purpous of selective breeding, looks, productivity etc. Just funny how things get termed.
 
It's why I like to use the term commercial hybrid Rick as a pose to hybrid. Home bred hybrids are often sneered upon but in my experience do show real hybrid vigour and are more often as not tough as old boots.
 
I agree completely with Dino's last comment.

My bantam hybrid girls, both Silkie crosses, are probably my oldest girls now at least 3 - 3.5years. Both are still laying vigorously, both extremely healthy and bright. They came from eggs from beautiful purebred girls at a waterpark in Godalming, all of them first class girls who were in a huge freeranging mixed flock of purebreds. One of them Angel, I think a Silkie crossed with a Pyle Oxford game has twice survived fox attacks, she played dead and when I went to gather up the bodies after the attack, got up and wandered away!

Some hybrids are certainly healthy, bright long lived ladies, cannot call these two anything but ladies.
 
My cuckoo x french marans Emily and Grace are 7 years old and lay almost all year round. I'm sure you get more eggs from a crossbred hen.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top