Breeding and culling (for personality traits)

[SarahGfa]

There are very very few breeders that are interested in doing this.

I am surprised to hear that. I have read that people who raise gamefowl breed for traits like fighting style and gameness. I guess all the other chicken breeders are just going for color and shape. In a few years when I have more space I will try to breed for different personalities.

 

[so lucky]

I don't think there would be enough demand for a certain trait in a chicken, beyond #of eggs, color of eggs and color of chicken. You would get so many variables that it would be crazy trying to breed and cull.

 

[SarahGfa]

I don't think there would be enough demand for a certain trait in a chicken, beyond #of eggs, color of eggs and color of chicken. You would get so many variables that it would be crazy trying to breed and cull.

I guess it is not like with dogs, where humans control most of the dog's socialization. Breeder would need to work with the chickens one by one to control socialization, and the chicken would probably end up depressed or crazy.

 

[so lucky]

But that would open up new job opportunities for chicken psychiatrists, so it wouldn't all be bad.

 

[EggWalrus]

Truthfully, there is no specific date. You get better chicken society with more than enough space, and a multigenerational flock. Birds raised in this scenario are much more apt to fit in the flock, than birds just raised with flock mates or birds raised in too tight of quarters.

Some birds will fit in your set up and flock, and some never will. I keep a flock, and I strive to maintain peace in the flock. And I am willing to cull and add birds to do so.

Mrs K

Multi-generational is the way to go. The old birds teach the youngins what is acceptable and what's not. But it may take several years till you have some decently behaved Seniors that can show the juniors how to act.

 

[mandelyn]

I'm into the 3rd generation from some great rooster starts. About 10%-30% will have the traits of the father, in terms of "way of being". You may have to hatch a lot to find them. It does carry over though and I can see those "stamps" from dad and grandpa in a select few. We start culling at 16 weeks, the smallest ones. We're dual purpose and also looking for growth rate, feed conversion and vigor. We're a small flock too, so I'm looking for personality and work ethic. In one line I can spot an "expression" in body stance and keen looks from a certain rooster we had when we first moved here... several of his grandson's expressed those traits.

Watch and get to know your birds, they'll tell you who the culls are, for the most part. Some of my best breeder boys I had to have one or several "conversations" about how to deal with people. The rooster in my avatar was a bit of a show boater, I carried him around 3 times and pinned him to the ground once, before he learned I was the leader. Talking to them helps, you don't have to be fluent in chicken. He came at me in play, early on. I responded like a grown rooster would, the 4th time. He's since become the leader of rooster coop and will take baby boys as young as 5 weeks with no drama.

For his specific breed of Black Silver Marans, he has middle toe feathers and his silver has a slight yellowed hue to it. Deep bodied, very broad. With the right silver on the hens with flawless toes and leg feathers, he may see the inside of a breeding pen yet.

This is him tending some young males, himself at about 6 months old.

 

[igorsMistress]

I've had a few roosters in varying circumstances. I've just made my decision with my most recent choices based on how competitive the boys were with each other and how they were treating the pullets. Those that were causing upset in the flock were chosen for removal. Any that were fairly comfortable with my presence but not too much so had possibilities. The one that was always at my side had to go, too familiar; the one who always left the coop through the pop door and approached my back through the main door is also gone. BTDT.

ETA Some of the best advice I've ever been given here on BYC was to remove the dominant roo if you can and you'll see how the subordinates will treat the girls. I had that opportunity and it was an eye opener. Totally changed my plan.