What to breed with white Leghorn?

[kickinthethroat]

Hey all!

I've had only white leghorns for a few years now. Some are original 'Pearl-white leghorns' from Murray McMurray, some are 2nd generation I hatched myself, some are 3rd.

I have a separate chicken tractor now in addition to my coop, and I'm looking for a new breed to have with my white leghorns.

I would like the new breed to have the following qualities:
Very high egg production
Brown eggs
Fairly Hardy- I'm in IL
Somewhat broody

In addition, I would like, if possible, to cross my leghorns and get chicks that also have the same qualities as above. Egg production and non white eggs being most important.

Sex link would be nice, but I hear that's very difficult with the Leghorn.

I would appreciate any suggestions and thoughts! Thanks all!

 

[AlleysChicks]

You could get barred rocks or cuckoo marans if you want sex links. Roo would have to be the leghorn. Not sure how broody they are.

 

[kickinthethroat]

Thanks! I was also thinking about black Australorp? They are supposed to be more broody?

 

[AlleysChicks]

Thanks! I was also thinking about black Australorp? They are supposed to be more broody?

my BAs never went broody. I hear buff orps are a broody breed. They lay brown eggs and are pretty hardy.

 

[keesmom]

You could get barred rocks or cuckoo marans if you want sex links. Roo would have to be the leghorn. Not sure how broody they are.

Unfortunately the dominant white of the Leghorn makes them unsuitable for black sex link crosses. All offspring would inherit that white and it will hide any barring.

Thanks! I was also thinking about black Australorp? They are supposed to be more broody?

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.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Unfortunately the dominant white of the Leghorn makes them unsuitable for black sex link crosses. All offspring would inherit that white and it will hide any barring.

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.

oh that is interesting, I did not know that.

 

[jlwquilter]

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.

We went with a mixed flock this time mainly because the farm I bought the novogens from had moved out of state. If I had been able to get them again I would have.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Most BA's that I have had were never broody.

However, I have 9 from Strombergs and every one of them has gone broody at least twice. Right now I am battling 4 of them.

Of course being broody they are NOT LAYING.

 

[MysteryChicken]

You can always have Buff Orpingtons mixed in with your Leghorns. Orpingtons go broody routinely every time during middle summer. Buff Orpingtons X Leghorn may work for sex-linkage.

 

[kickinthethroat]

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