Biodiversity vs. Classic Animal breeding

you guys take over. I am out of this one. bob

I read this thread through and for one I am glad it was here to read! I have been struggling with the idea of breeding my birds as closely as many propose. However this post has made clear the two different breeding agendas which in my mind were one and the same.

I have acquired Silver Birchen Marans. I was not at all happy with the selection from the first breeder. I went to another source and once again was not at all happy. However by combining what I had obtained I am getting some brids that suit my fancy. Now I understand a method to set up breeding pens and keep perfecting "my birds". I must confess I still am struggling with the idea of maintaining a viable flock with such a small gene pool.

I haven't read this thread all the way through, but here's how I see it:

It seems very foolhardy for any one person to think they have to be responsible for biodiversity in the breed on their own. Biodiversity is best maintained, IMO, from many DIFFERENT flocks being bred closely to high standards at the hands of various experienced and knowledgeable poultry keepers. The best way to encourage biodiversity is to encourage dedicated poultry keepers to keep their own flocks.

gallorojo said:

A,

It was never my intention to " slam" anyone with my comments. I think every point of view deserves to be heard. My point was simply I could not find a movement counter to traditional breeding. I actually was more attempting to defend the alternative POV more than demean it. I apologize if that did not come across we'll in my post. Sometimes things don't translate we'll to this medium. Thanks to Saladin for attempting to explain what I was trying to say, he was correct in his guess at my intent.

Click to expand...

I think you are talking to me?

Yes I agree, sometimes the medium can be a problem . . . all is forgiven . . . water under the bridge.

Carry on. I see value in many breeding schemes: all depends on the goals.

What happen to this tread? When talking on this subject its almost like Religion.

That is why when you go to a poultry show and talk and interview the real master breeders they are not really super star genetic experts.

Most of them do not have the education to under stand this and when the average person here this talk it goes over their heads.

Does not mean that its not valuable but in general the boys and girls who win year in and year out Breed from the GUT.

That's what I try to do. I have more faith in the lost genes that are running around in my germ plasma of my strain hoping that I can bring a super bird back in a chick from the past. I call it putting breeding pressure on traits that I want. If I want great type and feather quality I push for higher egg production from the breeders. It may take five years but BAM all of a sudden one year your chicks look like something you never saw be for. I often wonder if this old line of Mottled Javas I got that are very old from Dr. Albert McGraw who died seven years ago has this hanging around in the breeders I have. I dont think any genetic code or map will help me bring a bird to greatness and when I show this bird will help me get on champion row some day. Heck it may take 20 years of breeding and 2,000 bird to ever reach this goal.

Well you experts out there I will come back to see if anyone has anything to talk and read about. It had a purpose when it first started.

Well I'm going to be joining with you in the search for lost genes too here in the next few years. I have me some German New Hampshires, I also have got 32 eggs cooking in the 'bator' and under 2 broodies also of some of Frank Reese's/Good Shepard Farms strain of New Hampshires and another friend that is getting a different line of a "supposedly" an old strain from way back in the day New Hampshires. These NHs he is going to be looking at to see if they are worthy of moving forward with or scratching altogether. Somewhere in all this mess/groups LOL there should be some genes left floating around in there to bring forward for the utilities (what they were originally bred up for), the type (looks & colors)) of the breed of yesteryears gone by, I/we hope

good day

Jeff

Thats good. In the American New Hamps Kenneth Bowles had those birds in the 1960s looking as good as the German Type. Some have crossed the two and had pretty good luck. It will be fun to see a year from now what the Reese New Hamps look like at say 8 months. He has had them for a long time he told me. However, three years ago you could not get your hands on them. Today they will be available. It will still take many years of breeding and pushing the egg production to get the old genes to return to the level of greatness. I dont know how this breed went backwards in the past ten or so years. Heck I think they even crossed New Hampshire bantams into the large fowl to improve color. What a shame.

I think in the next five years you will see this old breed return to greatness not only for showing but over all backyard dual purpose chickens for anyone who wants a chicken on the farm.