I would cull all single combs and DQ's
why?
Because These Wyandottes are not single combs. Birds are available that do not have that fault. Do not go backwards. You have the correct comb..it makes no sense to use incorrect. It takes generations to remove it..or you would not have it popping up in your birds..cull them out. Do not breed a bird with a DQ..it is a cull
why?
let say you decided to keep that inverted comb and breed her..she has 100 chicks her first year and 50 of them have DQ combs. You have a single comb in that line too..so out of the inverted 50 you have half of them also with the single comb gene and the 20 normal looking combs carry the gene for both DQ's.and 30 single combs..You did not remove the problem, you just burried it for the next round.
you keep 5 of the best but you need to feed 100 chicks to find the best..you just spent $600 in feed and you have more DQs in your line than you originally had.
You keep breeding your originals and now add her chicks to the mix..you now have doubled your chances of DQ's, and you still get to spend money on feed. After you feed out all those birds for a few years you will still have the DQ's. If you breed what you see you have a better chance of keeping it in the line..knowing you have a DQ and breeding it anyway, it cost money, time, and frustration.
It cost far less to purchase quality birds with out faults. You can purchase the top of the line birds for far less than it will cost to feed all of those DQ birds for a year. A quality trio of birds will cost much less in the long run..you will have breeding quality right put of the gate and possible show birds in two years with a good culling and breeding program. Less money..less frustration..and more exciting..
why?
Because These Wyandottes are not single combs. Birds are available that do not have that fault. Do not go backwards. You have the correct comb..it makes no sense to use incorrect. It takes generations to remove it..or you would not have it popping up in your birds..cull them out. Do not breed a bird with a DQ..it is a cull
why?
let say you decided to keep that inverted comb and breed her..she has 100 chicks her first year and 50 of them have DQ combs. You have a single comb in that line too..so out of the inverted 50 you have half of them also with the single comb gene and the 20 normal looking combs carry the gene for both DQ's.and 30 single combs..You did not remove the problem, you just burried it for the next round.
you keep 5 of the best but you need to feed 100 chicks to find the best..you just spent $600 in feed and you have more DQs in your line than you originally had.
You keep breeding your originals and now add her chicks to the mix..you now have doubled your chances of DQ's, and you still get to spend money on feed. After you feed out all those birds for a few years you will still have the DQ's. If you breed what you see you have a better chance of keeping it in the line..knowing you have a DQ and breeding it anyway, it cost money, time, and frustration.
It cost far less to purchase quality birds with out faults. You can purchase the top of the line birds for far less than it will cost to feed all of those DQ birds for a year. A quality trio of birds will cost much less in the long run..you will have breeding quality right put of the gate and possible show birds in two years with a good culling and breeding program. Less money..less frustration..and more exciting..