Run Clips

[Miss Moneypenny]

I am beginning to suspect that hybrids are just not built to last.

The ones I have had so far have had various health problems and died within 3 years where as my one pure breed Welsummer who stops laying for 5months over the winter and moults heavily but bounces back perfectly after the break is going strong.

Anyone else feel the same or am I just having bad luck?

[Lavenders_Blue]

That is not uncommon with hybrids. The egg laying really takes it out of them, so a shorter lifespan is usual. As you have found, pure breeds do often live longer as they take a good break from egg laying each year. Many people keep a few of each if they have room. I have 7 hybrids and no eggs at the moment, so I am expecting them to live forever

[sandyhas3chucks]

agree. x

[sjp]

at the end of the day they aren't built to last. commercially they only have a working shelf life of about 76 weeks less the 16-18 weeks before they start to lay

[Redwing]

hybrids are essentially machines, they have been bred to lay and lay, they dont have to live long in the intensive commercial environment for which they are intended

 

You do hear of them getting to 4 years plus but its not all that common and even if they live a while they tend to suffer from egg laying related problems

 

Black Rocks are an exception, they have the egg laying benefits combined with hardy 'pet friendly' benefits, these do have to be the genuine Black Rocks though which are all from one hatchery in Scotland (there are a lot of copies about!)

 

Pure breeds are the way to go if you want long lived pets though!

[Purplemaniacs]

Neither of my original Omlet pair survived very long, however Latte a Merrydale Sweetie bought at the same time is still alive lays two or three eggs each week but does have a rest for a few months, as she was POL when I got her she must be 5 now.

 

I do not plan to replace my hybrids, having hatched some bantams this year I will hatch some pure breed LF when I have space for them, but I hope to keep a few ex batts too

 

Chrissie

[Ain't Nobody Here]

None of my hybrids have never reached 3.

[Chortle Chook]

With Redwing's exception of Black Rocks, I think you have to decide whether you want eggs or long lived pets. For my part I have a collection of extremely pretty free loaders My Silkies do quite well for eggs and age. I have one aged 4+ who still lays every other day all through the winter and just takes a short break for moulting in the autumn. On the other hand I have two, 2 year old Frizzles who are prettiness iteself but don't seem to lay an egg between them

[Mercedes55]

We have 1 hybrid and 3 pure breeds. Our hybrid has laid an egg pretty much every day since we got her in August last year. Our 3 pure breeds seem to all take very long breaks. None of them have laid for the last month or so and prior to that they were all moulting at various times so weren't laying then either. The only other hybrids we have had were rescue hens and one of them lasted just over 2yrs, which we thought was quite good

[Ms Marple]

I have a mixture of hybrids and "posh' girls in my flock of 19. 8 'posh' freeloaders - Cream Legbars, Aracaunas, Orpingtons. 6 exbatts- 4 from last Christmas and 2 from two years ago. Three hybrids from my very first girls who I guess are now 4.5 yrs old. The last two are probably my most prolific layers- two bantams - a Sabelpoot and a Poland! All still lay, but with the hybrids I am no longer sure who lays what! The bantam and Posh girls are easier to spot due to colour and size (and seasonal nature) of their egg laying. I think I have just been lucky with my hybrids I guess. I am lucky to have enough room to accommodate the variety of ages and hence almost always have had some eggs thus far... watch this change now!! Current stats mind you are approx 3 eggs per day from 19!! Much moulting taking place and several about to regrow feathers but shut up shop until next spring.

[Lavenders_Blue]

It's really not an exact science is it? I've got 7 hybrids - 1 ex batt (3 years of freedom), 2 ex batts (1 year of freedom) and 4 'posh' hybrids (bought approx 6 weeks ago). At the moment I've got one hen laying! They've obviously not read the rule book

[LottyJ1]

I agree its nice to have a mixture - I have a mixture of ex-batts and posh girls and its great.

The ex-batts are just so deserving and cheeky and although they don't live that long what freedom they do have is great and they are great layers and the posh girls are so pretty and also friendly and will hopefully live a bit longer and I find they teach the old ex-batts new tricks!

[Miss Moneypenny]

Well it is very interesting to learn that I am not alone!

My Welsummer is such a different character to the hybrids I have had, they are all fun in their way!

[MedusA]

I have one ex-batt that I've had for 2 years 7 months and she's still going strong, bless her. My Suffolk Noir (Black Rock-ish) hen is at least 5 years 7 months as I bought her as a laying hen in September 2007. She's as tough as old boots and solid as anything.

 

I've had several pure breeds who have not lasted the same distance (sadly my Araucanas were both rubbish layers and relatively short-lived hens).

 

I think I will always have a mix of the two for the best of both worlds.