Breeding chickens

[MillietheHen]

So I have a flock of 7 hens and 8 pullets/cockerels. I’m planning on keeping one cockerel so I can hatch my own chicks next year. The pullets/cockerels are from one of my hens and a rooster I used to have. My question is since their related should I not hatch eggs from the mom and siblings? I don’t know a lot about genetics and I was concerned about inbreeding so if anyone knows feel free to educate me.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

In breeding birds isn't nearly as bad as inbreeding humans

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I have a flock that has the same male for a bout 4 generations now and it's fine

 

[Egghead_Jr]

From what you describe none of the original flock/parents were related or perhaps not even the same breed. The genetic diversity in that is vast. It takes many generations of narrowing the gene pool before vitality/hatchability is affected.

Just think about the centuries it took of royal inbreeding across Europe to give us hemophilia. Inbreeding in chickens is only different than humans in that generations are annual instead of every 16-20 years.

 

[Amer]

From what you describe none of the original flock/parents were related or perhaps not even the same breed. The genetic diversity in that is vast. It takes many generations of narrowing the gene pool before vitality/hatchability is affected.

Just think about the centuries it took of royal inbreeding across Europe to give us hemophilia. Inbreeding in chickens is only different than humans in that generations are annual instead of every 16-20 years.

It is also different because diseases that would crop up in genetics are selected against. It is bad in humans because humans are always marrying nonrelatives, therefore, hiding any recessives they may carry.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/inbreeding-not-as-bad-as-it-may-seem.74335/
Here is an article I wrote about inbreeding.

 

[MillietheHen]

It is also different because diseases that would crop up in genetics are selected against. It is bad in humans because humans are always marrying nonrelatives, therefore, hiding any recessives they may carry.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/inbreeding-not-as-bad-as-it-may-seem.74335/
Here is an article I wrote about inbreeding.

Thank you! The article was really helpful!

 

[MillietheHen]

From what you describe none of the original flock/parents were related or perhaps not even the same breed. The genetic diversity in that is vast. It takes many generations of narrowing the gene pool before vitality/hatchability is affected.

Just think about the centuries it took of royal inbreeding across Europe to give us hemophilia. Inbreeding in chickens is only different than humans in that generations are annual instead of every 16-20 years.

Thank you! Good to know!

 

[MillietheHen]

I have a flock that has the same male for a bout 4 generations now and it's fine

Thanks that reassures me!