How to raise Backyard Chickens: [CHICKENS-101] Re: Extra light

When two separate breeds are interbred the result is a Hybrid. In most cases the offspring's are 'mules' so named because, like the interbreeding of horse and donkey, they are sterile and cannot reproduce. To avoid confusion, I think, hatcheries call their cross breeds hybrids. Chickens are cross bred to produce a bird for a definite purpose such as a roaster, a broiler, or dual purpose chicken. Cross breeding often results in chicks that can be identified as male or female at hatching through color, markings or the length of feathers. These are referred to as sex-link chickens. In the case of egg producers the aim is to produce a good egg layer that is not dangerous. Most of the sex-link laying hens have Rhode Island Red as one parent or the other. When a line of cross breeds consistently reproduces the same kind of chicken they can be classified as a separate breed. All the chicken breeds available today are the result of cross breeding except for the Red Jungle Fowl, the original chicken. Some breeds are hundreds of years old like the Silkey. The old breeds, sometimes called heritage breeds, have proven to be hardy, disease resistant birds, with known personalities and looks, although perhaps not as productive as modern chickens. There are a colorful addition to any back yard flock.
Ol' George
--- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, "Karen" <kgarza523@...> wrote:
>
> What is a hybrid? I thought it was a cross between two different breeds.
> Or is that called a cross breed? I think I'm confused about this.
>
> Karen
>
>
> --- In CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com, Kevin Mulraney <kraney51@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Karen, If they are pure breeds they are not so susseptible to getting egg bound do you should be fine, even with the 2 roosters servicing them all.
> > It is the hybrids that I had for regular egg laying I have had probs with none of the pure breeds have had it. Jane & co
> >
>