Planning My Breeding Pens Best Rooster & Hen Combos for Unique Hybrids?

[EggHatchHobbyist]

Hello, fellow chicken enthusiasts!

Im in the early stages of designing three breeding pens, and Id love to get your insights on a breeding setup Im considering. My goal is to have one rooster in each pen covering two different breeds of hens. This way, I can hatch both purebred chicks and unique hybrids in each pen.

To make sorting easier, I want to select hens that lay distinctly different colored eggsso I can easily tell which chicks are purebred and which are mixed. For example, I know that crossing a Black Copper Marans rooster with an Easter Egger hen can produce Olive Eggers, which people seem to love.

Im curiouswhat other rooster and hen combinations do you think would create interesting and desirable hybrids? Id love to produce some eye-catching birds with strong egg-laying genetics. Any suggestions for great pairings that would work well in this setup?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

[FlockVoyager]

That sounds like a fun breeding project! A great pairing could be a Cream Legbar rooster with Welsummer and Easter Egger hens. You'd get auto-sexing purebreds and colorful hybrid layers.

[HenHaven]

This is such a great approach! A Wyandotte rooster crossed with Isbar and Legbar hens could give you both pure Wyandottes and hybrids with blue or green egg genetics.

[GardenFowlGuru]

If market appeal is a goal, a Black Copper Marans rooster over Whiting True Blue and Olive Egger hens would be a great combo. You'd have dark brown, blue, and olive egg layers,very popular with backyard keepers!

[FeatherAlchemy]

That's an awesome idea! You could go with a Buff Orpington rooster over Lavender Orpington and Blue Ameraucana hens. You'd get some pure Orpingtons and hybrids with blue or buff plumage that lay blue-tinted eggs.

[BackyardBanter]

If you like the "zombie chick" effect of Ayam Cemani crosses, you might enjoy crossing a Silkie rooster with Ayam Cemani and Easter Egger hens. You'd get fuzzy-feathered or partially fibro hybrids with potential for green eggs.

[Eggnigma]

One combo I've always wanted to try is a Speckled Sussex rooster with Bielefelder and Olive Egger hens. Hardy birds, great personalities, and a mix of spotted and patterned offspring!

[DownyDreamkeeper]

Have you thought about Silkies in your project? A Silkie rooster over Marans and Ameraucana hens could produce fluffy, feather-footed hybrids that still lay dark brown or blue eggs.

[Eggcentric]

If you're after eye-catching hybrids, a Tolbunt Polish rooster with Ameraucana and Welsummer hens could produce funky crested hybrids that lay blue and speckled brown eggs.

[CompostChampion]

Sounds like a great plan! Just keep in mind that some crosses might not breed true in the second generation, so if you're selling chicks, be clear about which are hybrids. Can't wait to hear how it goes!