Pure heritage breeds vs. Mixed heritage breeds

[Rysktal]

I am loving BYC, so nice to have people to talk chickens with ♡

In your opinion/experience, is it better to have a pure flock or a mixed one?

I'm trying to plan out my winter flock and right now most of my chickens are either pure Barred Plymouth Rock or barnyard mixed heritage breeds (the possibilities are barred rock, orpington, austrolorp and ameraucana).

Today I have the opportunity to pick up some Barred Plymouth Rock cockerels the same age as my pullets and I am wondering if it's worth the effort to have a pure flock.

Alternatively, if I have a mixed flock, is it better to have a pure rooster or a mixed rooster?

Any insight/thoughts are appreciated!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

IMO it is a personal choice. If you just want eggs/meat, there's nothing wrong with barnyard mixes. Due to genetic diversity, they tend to be more vigorous.
However, if you have a plan to raise a specific breed and want to sell any birds or hatching eggs, you need pure breeds. Barnyard mixes are a dime a dozen. Then again, breeds that are common don't command high dollars unless they are exceptional examples of the SOP.
If you want to retain value in future generations, stick with pure breeds. I don't remember anyone breaking out the checkbook and clamoring for the opportunity to buy barnyard mixes.
However, it takes more than a trio or a few hens and a single rooster, to build value into a pure breed flock. You can't get enough chicks to be able to select prime individuals.

 

[Trux]

I'm sure you will get many opinions on this question. I would say it is up to you as to what you want from your flock. Knowing what I know, I personally have chickens for eggs and meat. When it comes to eggs my Barred Rocks lay the nicest large to jumbo size eggs. My Orpingtons lay nice eggs as well just not quite as large and they are very personable and friendly. Then there are my Wyandottes, I have SL GL and Columbians. The eggs are medium sized to large, and are nice to look at. Some are friendly and some are don't like to interact with me.
I also had Jersey Giants, to me they were to aggressive with the other girls and ended up being feather pickers so I culled them, one to freezer camp and rehomed 2 of them. So there is my 2 cents worth Hope what ever you decide it works out for you

 

[Ridgerunner]

It purely depends on your goals and personal preferences. There is nothing inherently better with one or the other until you consider your goals. What is important to you is probably different to my goals so my choices aren't important to you.

 

[Mrs. K]

They ^^ are all right, however you decide to do it. What I have found, is a good pure rooster, can add a bit of size to your chickens. Too much mixing, makes both size and egg production go down over time, in my experience.

Now, it really does not matter if the rooster matches all the hens, you pick which eggs you want to hatch. So if you want say 50/50 of pure and mixed, well those are the eggs you set, or any other combination. Roosters will cover anything, just hatch the ones you want.

If you are not quite sure, which bird lays what, well put the bird you want in a separate place with a nest for a couple of days. Then you know without a doubt.

Mrs K

 

[Shamo Hybrid]

I think it's fun to have mutt chickens, they are more unique and comes with better health benefits due to their more diverse genetics. But then again it's also nice to have strains that are true..... if I'm raising them just for the fun of it, I wouldn't mind having mutts. But if you're looking to breed and sell, then yes, sticking to their own kind is better.

 

[Rysktal]

Well I picked up some Barred Plymouth Rock cockerels today and after speaking with my husband about it, we will try to do a little of both- pure birds and mixed

 

[lazy gardener]

I like to have some barred and cuckoo patterned hens so I can breed my own black sex links.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

... In your opinion/experience, is it better to have a pure flock or a mixed one... Any insight/thoughts are appreciated!

You will have fewer and more manageable problems with pure flocks of both hens & roosters.

A mixed flock is asking for trouble with your more assertive hens dominating the shrinking violets in your flock.

Besides, when rearing mixed chickens every new breed or combination of breeds is an experiment in whether or not your hens will be compatible. I am not saying that all your hens will come together and sing kumbaya, only that your flock will start from a more equal footing or basis and be more likely to maintain that equilibrium..

A good case study is all the problems people report with their Polish and Silkie chickens getting "NO RESPECT" from the rest of the flock, or the fact that bantam breeds invariably end up on the bottom of the pecking order when kept with standard chickens.

IMHO, Housing weak willed chickens with iron willed chickens is just asking for trouble.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

IMO it is a personal choice. If you just want eggs/meat, there's nothing wrong with barnyard mixes. Due to genetic diversity, they tend to be more vigorous.
However, if you have a plan to raise a specific breed and want to sell any birds or hatching eggs, you need pure breeds. Barnyard mixes are a dime a dozen. Then again, breeds that are common don't command high dollars unless they are exceptional examples of the SOP.
If you want to retain value in future generations, stick with pure breeds. I don't remember anyone breaking out the checkbook and clamoring for the opportunity to buy barnyard mixes.
However, it takes more than a trio or a few hens and a single rooster, to build value into a pure breed flock. You can't get enough chicks to be able to select prime individuals.

X2. There are Pros and Cons to each but no matter what you will be entertained with fun and loving chickens.