Breeding question?

[delsi64]

I am new to breeding and was wondering how far apart genetic wise do the rooster and hens have to be for a succesful hatch? If I breed a barred rock rooster and a barred rock hen together from the same hatch is that wrong? What about if they are from the same rooster but different hens? Would this work? Or does it really matter?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Same hatch is fine...it's just a little worrisome if directly related brother and sister are used. You can get a lot of good chicks that way....but also some birds that need to be culled.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you do a search on line breeding, you'll get a lot of good information.

When a breeder is trying to develop a championship chicken or enhance a trait, it is not unusual for a rooster to be bred to his daughter or granddaughter. And there is genetically no difference in breeding a daughter-father than a brother-sister. The number of shared genes is the same.

When you do in-breed, any genetic weaknesses can show up, but good traits can get enhanced. Unless your chickens show some bad traits, you don't have a problem. And you can get bad traits from non-genetically linked birds.

Do a search on line breeding and you'll see what I mean. Don't just take my word for it.

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
badump-dump! Ya know...Levar Burton on Reading Rainbow???