The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 74
Breeding Cross-breds
Breeding Cross-breds.
The first cross of two pure breeds produces the most profitable bird for the farmer. They are very hardy, are no trouble to rear, grow faster and are more easily fattened than pure-breds.
If it be impossible to keep two pure breeds, some good can be done to the common flock by getting a pure-bred cock of a good useful strain and mating him with the best of the mongrel hens. If eggs only he wanted choose a Hamburg, Leghorn, or Minorca cock, and set the eggs from your best-laying hens. If table-birds, a game or Dorking cock, and set toe eggs from the largest-framed hens. For combination of good qualities choose a Houdan. Never breed from a cross-bred cock.