Home / Articles / Breed & Cross Comparison
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 → Marans → Olive Egger → Texas Quail →

Related Articles

Cross-Breeding

Brahma × Rhode Island Red — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Brahma × Plymouth Rock — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Brahma × Ameraucana — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Brahma × Marans — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Rhode Island Red × Plymouth Rock — Golden Sex-Link

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Rhode Island Red × Ameraucana — Easter Egger

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Rhode Island Red × Marans — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Plymouth Rock × Ameraucana — Barred Easter Egger

Read more →
Cross-Breeding

Plymouth Rock × Marans — Cross-Breeding Guide

Read more →
← All Articles