Tailfeathers, I understand the term closed flock. No new birds come in, and you work with what you got, in a nutshell..................So what if you keep getting undesirable traits, or you start to experience infertility, or so many other things that may happen??????????????? What if you cull, and you have nothing left????????? Do you keep breeding sub-par birds? That is when you have to scrap what you have done and start over, or you need to find a bloodline that has the trait you need to add, without sacrificing the positive things about your flock.
Of course all this is my opinion. I have raised several species of animals successfully. If poultry is different please let me know why
I hear you and please know that I am in NO way saying that one should NEVER go outside their flock and bring in new birds. However, I am saying that it should be done only when absolutely necessary and that is rarely the case.
Specifically to your points, any breeder is going to continue to get undesirable traits as there is NO perfect bird and there never will be. But let me address an issue where the same undesirable traits continues to pop up its ugly head. This is an even greater argument for linebreeding and maintaining a closed flock and meticulous records. It is only by doing so that one can actually ID the specific culprit(s) whether they be the father, mother, or both and from which specific "line" that was bred.
Also, as I have repeatedly stated, the best way to make sure you can outcross safely is by maintaining at least two separate lines for each strain you have. Then when the need arises to outcross for the reasons you stated above, there is no need to go outside your flock.
As for culling to the point where you have nothing left, I'd just have to say "Really?" Why would anyone do that unless they raised up nothing but absolute trash and then I'd have to ask how much due diligence they put into obtaining their eggs/chicks in the first place. Which brings me full circle to my first point. If one exercises proper due diligence in the first place, they are going to more than likely wind up with a group of birds that can be bred toward establishing their own foundation flock. Once that's accomplished much of the work is behind you.
I would agree with you that if you are going to outcross, you might as well "scrap what you have done and start over" because you are bringing in a host of unknowns and it will likely take you years to figure out just what you've got again.
As for what makes chickens different than other animal species, I suppose in some respects there probably isn't any difference at all. As I've said on numerous occasions, I'm no geneticist. Not even close. So when it gets down to the scientific stuff of this or that allele, I'm lost. However, I have read a couple of times now that the chicken has more genes than any other animal and therefore has the most complex genetic structure of any animal. I recently read there are like 13 different "modifiers" when it comes to egg color that attach themselves to this one thing or the other. There are folks like John Blehm and Mike Gilbert who understand genetics a whole lot better than me and even they will tell you that sometimes things happen and nobody but God Himself knows why.
All I can say is I've taken my cue from Nick Troiano and some others that I've read articles from in the Poultry Press and other books. When Troiano states that he's been linebreeding a closed flock for over 25 years and never brought in an ounce of new blood, AND has the bird with the most wins ever, AND has the most photographed bird in the world, AND has the most sought after offspring sometimes fetching several hundred dollars a piece - THEN I for one am prone to listen to him, his advice, and his experience. Especially when my simple brain, since I'm not the brightest bulb in the socket, can still understand that logically it makes sense not to bring in any "unknowns" unless absolutely necessary.
I hope that makes sense.
God Bless,
