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Guide

Breed & Cross Comparison

All breeds and crosses in one table — by carcass weight, maturity, and egg production

This table brings together all 7 pure breeds and 9 crosses from our farm. Compare carcass weight, time to maturity, annual egg production, and sex-link capability at a glance.

Complete Comparison Table

Below is a full comparison of every breed and cross available at our farm. Click any column header to sort. Pure breeds are marked with a gold border, crosses with green. Carcass weight is estimated at ~70% of live weight (~65% for quail).

Best Picks by Goal

  • Most eggs: RIR × Plymouth Rock (280–320/year, sex-link)
  • Biggest bird: Brahma × Plymouth Rock (roosters up to 5 kg)
  • Colored eggs + productivity: RIR × Ameraucana (240–270/year, green eggs)
  • Darkest eggs: Brahma × Marans or RIR × Marans

What Is a Sex-Link?

Sex-link means chick gender can be determined at hatch by color. This only works in a specific direction — reversing the rooster and hen breeds will not produce sex-linked offspring.

Breed / Cross Carcass Weight (kg) Maturity Eggs/Year Egg Color Sex-Link Appearance (♀/♂)
Light Brahma 2.5–3.2 / 3.2–3.9 7–8 months 150–200 Brown Large, fluffy white with black hackle & tail. Feathered legs. Both sexes similar coloring
Rhode Island Red 2.0–2.4 / 2.4–2.7 5–6 months 250–300 Brown Rich mahogany-red plumage. Roosters darker with iridescent tail. Hens slightly lighter
Ameraucana 1.8–2.0 / 2.0–2.4 5–6 months 200–250 Blue Varied colors; distinctive muffs & beard. Multiple color varieties. Both sexes similar pattern
Marans 1.9–2.2 / 2.4–2.8 6–7 months 150–200 Dark chocolate Dark copper-black plumage, may have feathered legs. Roosters darker with copper hackle
Olive Egger 1.8–2.2 / 2.1–2.5 5–6 months 200–250 Olive / Green Variable appearance; every bird unique. Hybrid — no standardized look. Colors range from black to brown to grey
Plymouth Rock 2.1–2.4 / 2.4–3.0 5–6 months 250–280 Light brown Distinctive black-and-white barred plumage. Both sexes similar striped pattern
Texas Quail 0.20–0.26 / 0.16–0.23 2–3 months 250–300 Speckled White plumage, large body for quail. Females larger than males. Minimal visual sex difference
Brahma × Rhode Island Red 2.1–2.5 / 2.5–3.2 6–7 months 250–280 Brown (medium-dark) ♀ red/buff, ♂ white/cream (sex-link: color at hatch). May have feathered legs
Brahma × Plymouth Rock 2.2–2.7 / 2.8–3.5 6–7 months 200–240 Light brown Variable: barred, white, or grey mixes. Large and fluffy. Both sexes similar
Brahma × Ameraucana 2.0–2.5 / 2.5–3.2 6–7 months 200–230 Blue / Green / Olive Variable colors; often feathered legs + muffs/beard from Ameraucana. Both sexes similar
Brahma × Marans 2.1–2.5 / 2.5–3.2 6–8 months 180–220 Dark brown Dark plumage; feathered legs (from both parents). Both sexes similar dark coloring
RIR × Plymouth Rock 1.8–2.1 / 2.1–2.5 5–6 months 280–320 Brown ♀ golden/red, ♂ white (sex-link: Golden Comet type). Medium build, active
RIR × Ameraucana 1.8–2.1 / 2.1–2.5 5–6 months 240–270 Green / Olive / Blue Variable colors (Easter Egger type). May have muffs/beard. Both sexes similar
RIR × Marans 1.9–2.2 / 2.2–2.7 5–7 months 230–260 Dark brown Dark red-brown plumage. Both sexes similar; roosters slightly darker
Plymouth Rock × Ameraucana 1.8–2.2 / 2.1–2.7 5–6 months 220–250 Blue / Green / Olive Often barred pattern (Barred Easter Egger). May have muffs/beard. Both sexes similar
Plymouth Rock × Marans 1.9–2.2 / 2.2–2.7 5–7 months 210–240 Dark brown Dark plumage, may show barred pattern. Both sexes similar coloring

Pure breed  ·  Cross  ·  Carcass ≈ 70% live weight (quail 65%)  ·  Hen / Rooster

Frequently Asked Questions

Rhode Island Red × Plymouth Rock — 280–320 eggs per year.

Brahma × Plymouth Rock — roosters reach 4–5 kg.

Crossing with Ameraucana produces blue or green eggs. Crossing with Marans produces dark brown eggs.

Related Breeds

Light Brahma Rhode Island Red Ameraucana Marans Olive Egger Plymouth Rock Texas Quail

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Brahma × Rhode Island Red — Cross-Breeding Guide

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