Strategies for Breeding with limited Gene Pool

[miss heny]

I am going to be breeding offically Swart Honas, using three out of the four birds I own so I plan on using line breeding to develop my strain until I aquire a good quality rooster to sire a secondary line.

 

[HeritageHenNut]

Very interesting discussion guys The 4 I'm starting with are not perfect (good breed type but undersized). I'll be giving this method a good try!

 

[miss heny]

When it comes to the method breeding up I do recommend being careful as some strains are so line,bred tbat when they cross out you may learn of the "dark side" of the strain

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
Are the Quad two pairs? Or one Rooster and three hens? In any case I suggest you use the most wild type of birds you can get, white eggs, single comb, wildtype pattern, white skin, normal feathers. My list would be Red Jungle fowl(the wild chicken) Brown leghorns(have yellow skin w/w and sex linked Id,but that can be bread out). Welsummers(have yellow skin w/w and sex linked Id,but that can be bread out). Old English Game(Red Duck wing and Black) Phoenix(BBR/Ducking)(Long tails but it's recessive and if not bred for will go away).

 

[cgmccary]

You've heard there are some LC breeders working on Crevecoeurs? Jeanette Beranger has made strides with them. Also, Ashley Schilling in Texas. There is a FB group of breeders.

 

[cgmccary]

Strategy is to cross distant lines & breed for size first. Maintain at least three clans in a spiral breeding program. It is what I do with my La Fleche.