Point me in the right Direction . . .Breeding

I've had backyard chickens for 4 - 5 years now and I think I would like to get a little more serious. For example, selecting a breed to keep to sell fertile eggs, and maybe get more serious with breeding. I am wondering where to start educating myself. I have lots of questions but can't really find what I am looking for. Maybe a book that covers the kind of information I need. I love to read and educate myself before doing anything. All I can find are more generic "keeping chickens" books. Can anyone give me some tips. I am currently building a barn this summer and I'm not even sure how to design breeding pens, etc. Thanks in advance.

Find a chicken breed and variety you like.

purchase the standard of perfection

purchase some chickens from a breeder of the breed and variety

raise the chickens

visit web sites dealing with the breed

start entering your birds in poultry shows talk to people ( get into discussions on this forum) and the judges about your bird


have fun along the way and be patient

ChickNpaca said:

I've had backyard chickens for 4 - 5 years now and I think I would like to get a little more serious. For example, selecting a breed to keep to sell fertile eggs, and maybe get more serious with breeding. I am wondering where to start educating myself. I have lots of questions but can't really find what I am looking for. Maybe a book that covers the kind of information I need. I love to read and educate myself before doing anything. All I can find are more generic "keeping chickens" books. Can anyone give me some tips. I am currently building a barn this summer and I'm not even sure how to design breeding pens, etc. Thanks in advance.

Click to expand...

I'm in a similar boat. I started my backyard layer flock in January and they just started laying pretty good recently. Similar to you, I want to breed my own "best" egg-laying production birds. The two varieties I like best for my particular climate, and the fact that I like both white and brown eggs, I decided I want to breed White Leghorns and Barred Rocks. I also like Dominiques quite a bit so I'm thinking a lot about breeding them too. I found two really great books on the subject. They were published quite a while ago but you can get re-prints of them. They are:

1. http://www.amazon.com/Mating-Breedi...d=1464371381&sr=1-3&keywords=breeding+poultry

2. http://www.amazon.com/breeding-poul...&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

I haven't read them yet but I skimmed through them and they have all the info I'm looking for and probably you too. I'm really looking forward to getting started.

Thanks! These books look helpful.

ChickNpaca said:

Thanks! These books look helpful.

Click to expand...

Yeah I definitely think they are. I looked over a couple of books before getting these and these looked like the best two. You're right though, there's few recently published books that looked like they had the info we need, and if there are any out there I haven't found them. This book looked pretty good too: http://www.amazon.com/Genetics-Fowl...d=1464404245&sr=1-2&keywords=poultry+breeding

I figured I'm going to read the two I referred you to first and if I want to get into it deeper I'll probably either get one of the text books that cost gazillions of dollars or the third book. Good luck to you and feel free to PM me if you have anything good to share and I'll do the same.

All the books above are available for free online.
Go to HathiTrust Digital Library and keyword search "full view".
Best,
Karen
( P.S. Powell-Owen is one of my fav authors.)

Hi,
I was breeding Sussex at the time, so that's why the Sussex books are included.
Here ya go:

If I could have only 8 books
in my Library they would be :

1. Genetics of Chicken Colours-The Basics
http://chickencolours.com/

2. Genetics of Chicken Extremities
http://chickencolours.com/

3. APA 2010 Standard of Perfection
http://www.amerpoultryassn.com/store.htm

4. The Sussex Fowl
By Sharpe 1920 .
Sharpe was one of the 3 great secrateries of the Sussex Poultry Club
in England. The other 2 were Leo Outram and Judge Clem Watson.
Sharpe was a legendary Sussex breeder and originated the
Light Sussex. This book is a classic. ( read online free)
http://newcatalog.library.cornell.edu/catalog/6721632

5. 21st Century Poultry Breeding
by Grant Brereton
http://poultrykeeper.com/book-reviews/21st-century-poultry-breeding-book-review
http://www.amazon.com/Century-Poultry-Breeding-Grant-Brereton/dp/0947870571

6. Laws governing the breeding of standard fowls. c.1
by Card, Wetherell Henry. Published 1912
This is a small 55 page book. A treasure of distilled knowledge.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.087299559;view=1up;seq=5
Note these are Laws, not opinions or theories. Judge Card was known
for his ability to take a complicated genetics topic and make it simple.
(read online free) Love, love, love this pithy little tome!

7. The Light Sussex
by Broomhead, William White, 1875-
Published 1921
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003137332;view=2up;seq=4
W.W. Broomhead was one of the three Broomhead brothers who were noted poultry men in England. He was a Sussex expert and Judge for the Sussex Poultry Club. He later went on to become President of the Poultry Club of Britain. This little 8 page gem is a classic because of the author's distinguished reputation and his insightful knowledge of the breed. W.W. Broomhead also edited one of the editions of the Poultry Club Standards as well as the Sussex Standard itself.
It matters not which variety one has, this brochure's study of breed type applies to all. Type is the breed. Blood tells. ( read free online )

8.
American Poultry Advocate - Volume 26 - Feb. 1918 - Page 202
The Proper Color of Speckled Sussex
An article written by Mr. A. J. Falkenstein,
the leading English breeder of Speckled Sussex,
A speech given in 1917 ( read free online)
books.google.com/books?id=jCtJAAAAYAAJ
During this period, many Speckled Sussex had a more ginger colored
ground color rather than the desired dark color. Mr. Falkenstein
popularized the darker color and, following his lead, the Sussex fancy
moved the Speckled Sussex to the lovely mahogany bay ground color
we see today. You can see the change in the tobacco cards issued:
1911 : http://tinyurl.com/ppo2ske
1930's : http://tinyurl.com/mo6aaw2

And for deeper study

9. the 3 DVD set
by Danne Honour
which includes much rare lit on the "Art of Breeding".
1000's of pages ( articles) on breeding for type and color by the Dean of the color Buff,
a legendary breeder of prize-winning poultry, esp. Buff Leghorns. ( Get the set from him)

10. Art and Science in Breeding : Creating Better Chickens
by Margaret E. Derry.
A fantastic book on the development of poultry breeding by a
talented author who writes on the various histories of animal breeding.
Ms. Derry has a wonderful turn of the pen when writing about
the history of animal breeding. She has had published a total
of 6 books. These 3 books are listed in order of year published:

Bred for Perfection: Shorthorn Cattle, Collies and Arabian Horses since 1800 (2003)
By Margaret E. Derry
http://www.poplarlane.net/books/animals-and-culture-series/bred-for-perfection-shorthorn-cattle-collies-and-arabian-horses-since-1800-2003/

Art and Science in Breeding: Creating Better Chickens
By Margaret E. Derry
http://www.utppublishing.com/Art-and-Science-in-Breeding-Creating-Better-Chickens.html

and in Nov. 2014:
Masterminding Nature: The Breeding of Animals, 1750-2010
By Margaret E. Derry
http://www.utppublishing.com/Masterminding-Nature-The-Breeding-of-Animals-1750-2010.html

Bookfinder is a massive mega booksearch database. Been around a long time.
http://www.bookfinder.com/
Some of these books may be available as used editions for a good price. Beware if you find SOP's tho. The APA never relinquished their copyright on the SOP. Some fly-by-night reprinters have taken the old pre-1926 editions and reprinted them illegally. Nabu Press is one of them. Often they are cheap OCR copies with many typos because of the cheap scanning.
For me, the first 3 books are simply essential.
Best Success,
Karen
in western PA, USA

Here is a good library of classic poultry books available online for free at HathiTrust:

The call of the hen : or, The science of selecting and breeding poultry for egg-production
by Walter Hogan ( d. 1921 )and T.E. Quisenberry.
Published 1928
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924002775140;view=1up;seq=5

Breeding and culling by head points
by Steup, Howard Harold.
Published 1928
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003133273;view=1up;seq=11

The art of poultry breeding.
by Davis, J. H.
Published 1896
slim voume which reminds us of the "art" in breeding.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003135401;view=1up;seq=5

Fundamentals in poultry breeding; a complete guide to the successful breeding of
American standard fowls, turkeys, ducks and geese for table poultry, for egg production
and for exhibition,
by John H. Robinson; 1863-1935.
illustrated by Franklane L. Sewell, Arthur O. Schilling contributing
Published 1921 ( a poultry classic)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89043234111;view=1up;seq=1

Every step in culling and breeding.
by Foreman, E. C.
Published 1922
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003164955;q1=breeding to feather

Breeding chickens for meat production
V.S. Asmundson and I. Michael Lerner.
by Asmundson, V. S. 1895-1974.
Published 1942
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t56d6xm2n;q1=breeding to feather

The mating and breeding of poultry,
by Harry M. Lamon and Rob R. Slocum.
Published 1927
( Lamon {another legend in poultry circles} created the Lamona breed of poultry)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924073887782;view=1up;seq=7

Poultry breeding.
by Jull, Morley A. 1885-1959.
Published 1952 ( another legendary poultry figure)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924052777723;view=1up;seq=7

The philosophy of judging : a manual upon the scoring of exhibition fowls, intended to
meet the wants of the general breeder and the exhibitor, as well as the professional judge
by I.K. Felch and H.S. Babcock ; illustrated by J. Henry Lee.
Published 1889
Another giant in poultry circles, Felch drew the famous line-breeding chart. All three above
were renowned poultry men.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89042005470;view=1up;seq=5

Handbook and souvenir of the British Section,
by Sidney H. Lewer.
by World's Poultry Congress and Exhibition, Hague-Scheveningen,
Published 1921
( IF you are interested in British breeds, this is a concise, educational history of the
British poultry fancy with lovely pics in color and B&W of various breeds in 1921.)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003159765;view=1up;seq=28

The amateur's manual; or, Specific mating of thoroughbred fowls.
by Felch, Isaac Kimball
Published 1877
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uma.ark:/13960/t8kd2hs53;view=1up;seq=1
This is his 1st book. It is about the art of breeding. Mendel's discoveries were forgotten when he died around 1865. He was not "rediscovered" until 1902. During the interim, when this book was written, there were "hybridists" and other scientists working on breeding problems. But genetics as a particular named Science did not appear till after 1902. So when this book was written ( and still for many years after), breeders used the "art" of breeding to perfect their animals and birds. In other words, they bred by comparison and physical attributes. As a painter chooses the correct quality canvas and proper quality and color of paint to make his masterpiece,... so in this book we will see the author discussing phenotypes and hues as breeding hallmarks for success instead of genetic ratios and percentages of breeding inheritances. Both art and science work together. This book is fascinating to read, esp. since it was written by an author so highly esteemed in remembrance. I have already found the answers to some of my Sussex questions this morning in reading some of it. ( Just a note here, mating Light Brahmas which are based on the eb ( Brown) allele is completely different from mating eWh (Wheaten) breeds like the Light Sussex. The breeding methods do not cross over.)
Again, mating "Partridge" colored birds based on eb (where the hen is "penciled") is different from breeding Partridge birds based on e+ wildtype (where the hen is stippled.) See Judge Card's book for laws for breeding for color.
Laws governing the breeding of standard fowls. c.1
by Card, Wetherell Henry. Published 1912
This is a small 55 page book. A treasure of distilled knowledge.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.087299559;view=1up;seq=5
Note these are Laws, not opinions or theories. Judge Card was known
for his ability to take a complicated genetics topic and make it simple.
(read online free) Love, love, love this pithy little tome!
Best Regards,
Karen

3riverschick said:

Here is a good library of classic poultry books available online for free at HathiTrust:

The call of the hen : or, The science of selecting and breeding poultry for egg-production
by Walter Hogan ( d. 1921 )and T.E. Quisenberry.
Published 1928
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924002775140;view=1up;seq=5

Breeding and culling by head points
by Steup, Howard Harold.
Published 1928
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003133273;view=1up;seq=11

The art of poultry breeding.
by Davis, J. H.
Published 1896
slim voume which reminds us of the "art" in breeding.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003135401;view=1up;seq=5

Fundamentals in poultry breeding; a complete guide to the successful breeding of
American standard fowls, turkeys, ducks and geese for table poultry, for egg production
and for exhibition,
by John H. Robinson; 1863-1935.
illustrated by Franklane L. Sewell, Arthur O. Schilling contributing
Published 1921 ( a poultry classic)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89043234111;view=1up;seq=1

Every step in culling and breeding.
by Foreman, E. C.
Published 1922
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003164955;q1=breeding to feather

Breeding chickens for meat production
V.S. Asmundson and I. Michael Lerner.
by Asmundson, V. S. 1895-1974.
Published 1942
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc2.ark:/13960/t56d6xm2n;q1=breeding to feather

The mating and breeding of poultry,
by Harry M. Lamon and Rob R. Slocum.
Published 1927
( Lamon {another legend in poultry circles} created the Lamona breed of poultry)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924073887782;view=1up;seq=7

Poultry breeding.
by Jull, Morley A. 1885-1959.
Published 1952 ( another legendary poultry figure)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924052777723;view=1up;seq=7

The philosophy of judging : a manual upon the scoring of exhibition fowls, intended to
meet the wants of the general breeder and the exhibitor, as well as the professional judge
by I.K. Felch and H.S. Babcock ; illustrated by J. Henry Lee.
Published 1889
Another giant in poultry circles, Felch drew the famous line-breeding chart. All three above
were renowned poultry men.
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=wu.89042005470;view=1up;seq=5

Handbook and souvenir of the British Section,
by Sidney H. Lewer.
by World's Poultry Congress and Exhibition, Hague-Scheveningen,
Published 1921
( IF you are interested in British breeds, this is a concise, educational history of the
British poultry fancy with lovely pics in color and B&W of various breeds in 1921.)
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003159765;view=1up;seq=28

The amateur's manual; or, Specific mating of thoroughbred fowls.
by Felch, Isaac Kimball
Published 1877
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uma.ark:/13960/t8kd2hs53;view=1up;seq=1
This is his 1st book. It is about the art of breeding. Mendel's discoveries were forgotten when he died around 1865. He was not "rediscovered" until 1902. During the interim, when this book was written, there were "hybridists" and other scientists working on breeding problems. But genetics as a particular named Science did not appear till after 1902. So when this book was written ( and still for many years after), breeders used the "art" of breeding to perfect their animals and birds. In other words, they bred by comparison and physical attributes. As a painter chooses the correct quality canvas and proper quality and color of paint to make his masterpiece,... so in this book we will see the author discussing phenotypes and hues as breeding hallmarks for success instead of genetic ratios and percentages of breeding inheritances. Both art and science work together. This book is fascinating to read, esp. since it was written by an author so highly esteemed in remembrance. I have already found the answers to some of my Sussex questions this morning in reading some of it. ( Just a note here, mating Light Brahmas which are based on the eb ( Brown) allele is completely different from mating eWh (Wheaten) breeds like the Light Sussex. The breeding methods do not cross over.)
Again, mating "Partridge" colored birds based on eb (where the hen is "penciled") is different from breeding Partridge birds based on e+ wildtype (where the hen is stippled.) See Judge Card's book for laws for breeding for color.
Laws governing the breeding of standard fowls. c.1
by Card, Wetherell Henry. Published 1912
This is a small 55 page book. A treasure of distilled knowledge.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=chi.087299559;view=1up;seq=5
Note these are Laws, not opinions or theories. Judge Card was known
for his ability to take a complicated genetics topic and make it simple.
(read online free) Love, love, love this pithy little tome!
Best Regards,
Karen

Click to expand...

Gosh, thanks very, very much Karen - really appreciated! I've got a lot to learn and a lot of reading to do. I'm brand new at this but I'm finding the breeding aspect of the hobby incredibly interesting and can't wait to get started. Again, thanks much.

ejcrist said:

Gosh, thanks very, very much Karen - really appreciated! I've got a lot to learn and a lot of reading to do. I'm brand new at this but I'm finding the breeding aspect of the hobby incredibly interesting and can't wait to get started. Again, thanks much.

Click to expand...

More than welcome. I just love studying breeding systems and setting up mating with a larger goal in mind. It's just fascinating. The sex-linked genes in poultry also increase the challenge of getting the excellence in the abstract correct, smile.( Balancing all those possibilities in theory while one weighs the outcomes according to phenotypes and genetics). I have found breed history to be a great help in that regard because it is such a help to understand the nuances of a breed. That X factor which belies words but brings out the "it" factor in get from a mating.
Best,
Karen