Breeding for Sexing Traits?

[3KillerBs]

I've been lucky so far with my Blue Australorps to have the boys develop prominent combs around 3 weeks. I wondered if, by only breeding birds who are not ambiguous and difficult to sex I can keep this going so that I can more readily sell started pullets with confidence that I won't have an excessive # of "oops" birds.

I know that early maturity in general is heritable but is easy separation of the sexes heritable?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

The only certain and failsafe way to breed for gender clarity is with the common sex linked feathering traits: ie barring or silver/red-gold, etc.

However, if you continue to trend your flock towards early maturation in the cockerels, only breeding forward those who follow that trend, you should definitely develop lines that are more tell-able at an early age.

Barred Rock breeders can carefully control their lines for leg wash and head dot.

My Marans came from a long established line, and the males developed very noticeably at an early age. Ditto for Bantam Cochin.

So I think by manipulating your flock you should have general trends. However, it won't be genetically guaranteed as with barring or the classic silver/red-gold down colors of sexlinking or autosexing.

So I would still sell with the "possibility" of being a different gender. However, as you get to know your line, you will get good at recognizing the males from the females and their particular quirks as you breed carefully.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[3KillerBs]

My thoughts.

And thank you for them.

It sounds like I might be on a good track with this then.