rabbitfluff Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Sorry if this is a daft question, but you know how some things just bother you! I get that a hybrid is a cross between 2 breeds. So to get my Black Rock it's a cross between a Rhode Island Red and a Barred Plymouth Rock. So does it always have to come from a cross? And what happens if a Black Rock and a Black Rock breed, does this not produce a Black Rock? And if so does it not then become a "breed" in itself not a hybrid? Again sorry if this is obvious, but I'm easily baffled by things! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 OOH don't know with chickens but we have a cross breed dog, a labradoodle. He is a cross between a labrador and a poodle. If I remember correctly he is classed as a F1 cross as he comes from the 2 original breeds. If they are then bred down the line, a labradoodle with a poodle or a labrador it would then be an F2 cross, then you get to the F3 F4 or F5 (can't remember which) and this would be a labradoodle breeding with a labradoodle. Still classed as a cross breed, just different dilutions In Australia the labradoodle is a recognised breed as it it has been bred for over 20 years and there are many many generations to make it into a breed. Assume it would be the same with chickens - it would take a few years of crossing black rocks with Black Rocks without any dilutions of the original breeds to make it a breed in itself. Only my opinion - I could be totally wrong! Best dog we have ever had by the way - he is an absolute treasure and I can highly recommend labradoodles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 (edited) I may well be wrong but I think that a hybrid is when it doesn't breed "true", which is to say that if you do a black rock x black rock, you don't get black rock chicks; whereas if you mate two "pure breeds" all the chicks will be "pure breeds". Edited to make it less wrong. Edited September 4, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon_blackwell1 Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 My understanding was hybrids cannot breed and therefore you cannot produce a hybrid by breeding two hybrids! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 Not the same as dogs then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted September 4, 2009 Share Posted September 4, 2009 I may well be wrong but I think that if a hybrid is when it doesn't breed "true", which is to say that if you do a black rock x black rock, you don't get black rock chicks; whereas if you mate two "pure breeds" all the chicks will be "pure breeds". I think this is exactly right. Hybrids can breed (as in can produce offspring when paired with another) but the resulting offspring can be very variable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
