I like linebreeding as it helps keep traits intact,so the quality breeds onward.It is a good idea to stay within a strain if possible and go back to the source as Bob states.You can and should select only the strongest,most vigorous birds as breeders,if you do this inbreeding will be of minor concern,just watch egg production ,fertility and hatchability. If fertility becomes a factor than outcross,follow up backcrossing the offspring to the old original line and continue. Breeding is slow and improvements are often slight varations,but in a few years time all the little improvements add up to a big difference. The old "grading -up " principle works on many levels.
Even with Buff color,a simple method of using good colored males each year can transform the whole flock into good colored birds after a few years.It is known as backcrossing to good colored males.What happens is the color good genes are re-injecteded into the entire gene pool and after a few generations these genes become fixed or homozygous. In relation to the Buff Chantecleer,use good colored buff males each year,on the female side have the larger size,good type,and for both sexes select the tighter feathered birds when ever possible.Many lines of Buff Rocks,and Buff Wyandottes are too loose feathered and Buff Orpingtons and Buff Cochins are even more loose.It might be possible to find some hatchery Buff Rocks or Buff Orpingtons that are both large and tight feathered.I found some about ten years ago (while judging a fair)that were hatchery Buff Orpingtons,big birds with long bodies and very tall that were tight feathered.They did not look like Orpingtons,but they would have been good for something like Buff Rocks or Buff Chantecleers.The white leg color can be bred out as it is dominant and the recessive yellows will come back out and will breed true.
