Important information on hybrid chickens
Hybrid hens have been developed through selectively cross-breeding the most productive strains of pure-breed layers. While some characteristics of the original parent stock may remain, hybrid hens are specially bred to be docile(less aggressive),they don't go broody easily and lay a high number of eggs in their first year.
The best of them can produce an egg almost every day – at their peak, 5 hens could give you 25 eggs a week.
They are several varieties such as Isa Brown, Lohmann Brown, Hyline Brown, Brown Nick, Bovan Brown among others.
I will give you both their advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of hybrids
1. They lay a high numbers of eggs in their first year of laying.
2. Their egg yields are more predictable than those of pure-breeds.
3. They mature early from 18 weeks of age as compared to pure breeds which start laying from 24 to 28 weeks of age.
4. They are usually easy to manage if you follow the rules of poultry management.
5. They are less likely to go broody hence plenty of eggs laid and only a few will go broody under poor management.
6. If routinely vaccinated against a number of diseases the disease incidences will always be lower.
7. They are generally cheaper to buy than pure-breeds. Compare buying a hybrid layer chick at 100 birr compared to other purebreed chicks e.g silky,brahmas at 220birr each.
Disadvantages of hybrid layers.
1. Their laying can sometimes be unpredictable after the first year of laying. As they approach 72 to 80 weeks their laying reduces and hence sold as ex layers. Pure breeds can lay for as long as 4 years.
2. Tend not to live as long as pure-breeds. Pure breeds can go for upto 6 years unless it dies from diseases or natural causes.
3. Hybrids don’t ‘breed true’ – the only way to obtain more of the same type is to buy new chicks from breeders and suppliers of chicks. If you breed hybrid chicken then you get poor /inferior offsprings.
4. Careful feeding is important for hybrids to meet the demands of intensive egg-production. You can't feed hybrid layers on left over feeds or table scraps and expect good egg production. A carefully formulated feed with all nutrients is required for excellent egg production.
5. Hybrid layers usually have tough and small amount of meat compared to pure breed hence not an excellent meat bird.
6. Hybrids are less likely to be reliable if you want birds for brooding of eggs or if you want to hatch some eggs.
7.Many traditional pure-breeds are declining due to the popularity of hybrids. People are more into business with hybrids hence pure-breed population is declining.
Hybrid hens have been developed through selectively cross-breeding the most productive strains of pure-breed layers. While some characteristics of the original parent stock may remain, hybrid hens are specially bred to be docile(less aggressive),they don't go broody easily and lay a high number of eggs in their first year.
The best of them can produce an egg almost every day – at their peak, 5 hens could give you 25 eggs a week.
They are several varieties such as Isa Brown, Lohmann Brown, Hyline Brown, Brown Nick, Bovan Brown among others.
I will give you both their advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of hybrids
1. They lay a high numbers of eggs in their first year of laying.
2. Their egg yields are more predictable than those of pure-breeds.
3. They mature early from 18 weeks of age as compared to pure breeds which start laying from 24 to 28 weeks of age.
4. They are usually easy to manage if you follow the rules of poultry management.
5. They are less likely to go broody hence plenty of eggs laid and only a few will go broody under poor management.
6. If routinely vaccinated against a number of diseases the disease incidences will always be lower.
7. They are generally cheaper to buy than pure-breeds. Compare buying a hybrid layer chick at 100 birr compared to other purebreed chicks e.g silky,brahmas at 220birr each.
Disadvantages of hybrid layers.
1. Their laying can sometimes be unpredictable after the first year of laying. As they approach 72 to 80 weeks their laying reduces and hence sold as ex layers. Pure breeds can lay for as long as 4 years.
2. Tend not to live as long as pure-breeds. Pure breeds can go for upto 6 years unless it dies from diseases or natural causes.
3. Hybrids don’t ‘breed true’ – the only way to obtain more of the same type is to buy new chicks from breeders and suppliers of chicks. If you breed hybrid chicken then you get poor /inferior offsprings.
4. Careful feeding is important for hybrids to meet the demands of intensive egg-production. You can't feed hybrid layers on left over feeds or table scraps and expect good egg production. A carefully formulated feed with all nutrients is required for excellent egg production.
5. Hybrid layers usually have tough and small amount of meat compared to pure breed hence not an excellent meat bird.
6. Hybrids are less likely to be reliable if you want birds for brooding of eggs or if you want to hatch some eggs.
7.Many traditional pure-breeds are declining due to the popularity of hybrids. People are more into business with hybrids hence pure-breed population is declining.
Important information on hybrid chickensℹ️
Hybrid hens have been developed through selectively cross-breeding the most productive strains of pure-breed layers. While some characteristics of the original parent stock may remain, hybrid hens are specially bred to be docile(less aggressive),they don't go broody easily and lay a high number of eggs in their first year.
The best of them can produce an egg almost every day – at their peak, 5 hens could give you 25 eggs a week.
They are several varieties such as Isa Brown, Lohmann Brown, Hyline Brown, Brown Nick, Bovan Brown among others.
I will give you both their advantages and disadvantages:
Advantages of hybrids
1. They lay a high numbers of eggs in their first year of laying.
2. Their egg yields are more predictable than those of pure-breeds.
3. They mature early from 18 weeks of age as compared to pure breeds which start laying from 24 to 28 weeks of age.
4. They are usually easy to manage if you follow the rules of poultry management.
5. They are less likely to go broody hence plenty of eggs laid and only a few will go broody under poor management.
6. If routinely vaccinated against a number of diseases the disease incidences will always be lower.
7. They are generally cheaper to buy than pure-breeds. Compare buying a hybrid layer chick at 100 birr compared to other purebreed chicks e.g silky,brahmas at 220birr each.
Disadvantages of hybrid layers.
1. Their laying can sometimes be unpredictable after the first year of laying. As they approach 72 to 80 weeks their laying reduces and hence sold as ex layers. Pure breeds can lay for as long as 4 years.
2. Tend not to live as long as pure-breeds. Pure breeds can go for upto 6 years unless it dies from diseases or natural causes.
3. Hybrids don’t ‘breed true’ – the only way to obtain more of the same type is to buy new chicks from breeders and suppliers of chicks. If you breed hybrid chicken then you get poor /inferior offsprings.
4. Careful feeding is important for hybrids to meet the demands of intensive egg-production. You can't feed hybrid layers on left over feeds or table scraps and expect good egg production. A carefully formulated feed with all nutrients is required for excellent egg production.
5. Hybrid layers usually have tough and small amount of meat compared to pure breed hence not an excellent meat bird.
6. Hybrids are less likely to be reliable if you want birds for brooding of eggs or if you want to hatch some eggs.
7.Many traditional pure-breeds are declining due to the popularity of hybrids. People are more into business with hybrids hence pure-breed population is declining.
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