Solitary chicken - need advice

[jomaxsmith]

I've just started with chickens and last Friday bought 3 hybrids hens from a local poultry centre.

 

When I was reading up before I got them it was very hard to get accurate info about the hybrids and it now seems to me that very similar birds have different breeds names.

 

Can someone please enlighten me:

 

Is a hybrid's name given by the breeder as a trademark or is there a 'recipe' for a certain hybrids that any breeder can follow? I.e. my Daisy is a Maran Cuivre - is there somewhere a breed standard for how to create her?

 

Can hybrids be bred from or are they sterile like mules i.e are there flocks of Maran Cuivre creating the new generation!

 

Is is possible to breed mongrel chickens?

 

Thanks!

Jo

[CatsCube]

Their is some confusion over hybrids but the definitions are as follows:

 

A proper hybrid is like a breed in itself and has been sort of genetically engineered, its made up of a combination of pure breeds and breed for specific purposes, ie for egg production, or meat. The 'parents' are chosen accordingly, so they have docile temeraments normally, and lay large quantities of a good sized egg, normally brown shades for the UK market or white for the US market. So if your buying a proper hybrid, much like with a pure breed you know what your getting in terms of eggs and behavior. in dog terms this would be like a labradoodle, a labrador poodle cross breed to have the affection, shape and intelligence of a labrador, but the size and non sheading coat of a poodle

 

Then you get mixed breeds, which is where two breeds of chicken create chicks, be carefull that a breeder doesnt lie and sell you these as hybrids, they have not been breed for purpose, their is no idea what temperament they will have or wether they will lay the desired eggs.

 

Then finally you get mutts, these are chickens that are not breed from pure breeds, they have mixed breed parents and and can therefore all come out looking and behaving differently for each other. As above you have no idea what your getting.