Hybrids, Crossbreeds, and Mixed breeds?

What’s the difference?

When we breed animals, be it chickens, dogs, fish, or pheasants, we’re bound to run into terms like Hybrid, Crossbreed, and Mix-breed.

Unfortunately, clarity is oft forsook for convenience and one such occasion took place in the realm of these 3 terms. Barely anyone knows what they mean!

To add to the confusion, the biologist’s definition is different than the domestic animal cultivator’s definition, but the latter only is the topic of this post.

So, what’s the difference?

1. Hybrid

The Hybrid different than the other three terms because it is the result of mixing at least three different species or breeds of animals. For instance, the Amberlink is a hybrid, because the standard has parentage from Rhode Island Reds, Rhode Island Whites, and White Plymouth Rocks, all of which are distinct breeds of chickens.

For the record, Hybrids more usually are selected and evolved by breeders more than Crossbreeds. For instance, the Amberlink, again, was selected over generations to lay more eggs, and be more hardy.

In the dog industry this definition has fallen in favor of the idea that a hybrid is a cross between species (like a wolf-dog).

2. Crossbreeds

The Crossbreed is very simple. It is a mix between two, and only two breeds or species. The Rhode Island Blue, for you chicken fans, is a Crossbreed between the Rhode Island Red and the Australorp.

A Cockapoo (Cocker Spaniel-Poodle) is a dog Crossbreed.

A cut-throat pheasant (Lady Amherst-Golden) is a Crossbreed in Aviculture but a Hybrid in Biology, so you often hear it called both.

I also thought you might want to see this… Guinea Hen – Chicken Crossbreed:

For the record, the Imperial Pheasant, in fact was a crossbreed that no one knew was a crossbreed. Crossbreeds can cause some confusion.

3. Mixed Breed

The Mixed Breed can be a Hybrid or a Crossbreed.

Mixed Breed is a term used when you simply do not know.

Like that dog that lives in your attic… Mixed Breed.

Here’s my Mixed Breed Snow Chicken:

I have my suspicions (Australorp x Leg Horn???) but I really don’t know (plz comment if you know or have a good hypothesis, I’m rather curious).

Conclusion

Crossbreeds, Hybrids, and Mixed Breeds are three different and distinct concepts, and now you have my permission to have an informed conversation using the CORRECT avicultural terms!