Breeding question

[ninny]

Mods if this shouldn't go here please move and sorry.

I would really like to get into breeding chickens again. Should i start with a trio or order a bunch of eggs from breeder and use them as a starter flock? Id really like to do this right. Its been years since i've done this. Any advice?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I recommend getting a good adult pair or trio or even quad from a breeder--they can be young or even older ones (often you will pay less for a bird that is a year to two old than for a ready-to-breed youngster). Make sure the breeder knows your intent, and can go over the fine points of the breed--what you do and do not want and why.

If you order eggs, the chance of getting birds worth breeding, plus the time for them to mature will offset any gain from the lower price.

 

[catwalk]

Agreed. My first birds were eggs from Ebay, and I am happy with three out of the five. I also ordered eggs, and have heard of stories of this happening to others, where some weren't even the breed that I paid for! While I agree that $35 for a dozen eggs is in theory a lot cheaper than $45 for one bird, I'd still go with the bird UNLESS the eggs are from a VERY reputable breeder and you have a good hatch rate with your incubator.

 

[hcammack]

I am doing both I will give you a little run down of what I have done so far this year these are some costly birds and I need to get pullet # up:

7 adults one 1 rooster and 6 hens- $80 all between 4months and 1 year (I got an amazing deal and I am so thankful I got these amazing birds)
1 pair young 7 months- $107 shipped great bloodlines
36 eggs- $75 ( poor investment I wasn't experienced enough to get a good hatch)
I have 18 eggs on the way from a great breeder they were- $40 I am getting a better bator so hopefully I will get a great hatch
here is the crown jewel 1 great cockeral 1 year old shipped $125!

Then I may also get a trio from RI depending on how they look.

It is expensive to build a good breeding flock but its less expensive to buy adult birds they to hatch and cull and hatch and cull. I have paid extra for great bloodlines because I don't want problems with inbreeding down the line all three batches of adult birds I have got are from diffrent lines and the trio would also be from another.

Henry

 

[Lollipop]

Ninny, I`m gonna give you some sage advice......

Obtain the best pair your money can buy of whatever breed you choose. When you get the offspring to laying age, mate the best pullet back to her father and the best cockeral back to his mother. That will establish 2 families, one on the cocks side and one on the hens side. As the offspring keep comming, continue this practice for 5 generations. At that point, take a cock from one family and mate with a hen from the other and start all over for 5 generations. In this manner, you can breed birds out of the original pair for your whole life and never ad any outside blood and your birds will be as good or probably much better than any you could ever buy. Read it again and do it. Band your birds and keep strict records. You can do it. Good luck........Pop

 

[hcammack]

Quote:
I would have done this but the population of faverolles is so small that many breeders have been doing this for many many generations and some lines are very inbred that is why I decided to start breeding with birds that aren't closesly related.

Henry

 

[nzpouter]

pick a breed first... get the housing ready, get the best stock you can afford.

 

[Lollipop]

Quote:
I would have done this but the population of faverolles is so small that many breeders have been doing this for many many generations and some lines are very inbred that is why I decided to start breeding with birds that aren't closesly related.

Henry

Henry, this is linebreeding and does not deplete the gene pool. Most "breeders" have never practiced anything except throwing a rooster in with a few hens of the same breed. Read my post again and notice the difference. The method I had expained will not produce defects and/or weaklings, only improve the stock. It`s a time proven method practiced by gamefowl breeders for over a hundred years. As I mentioned, you can breed the offspring from one pair in this manner for your whole lifetime and end up with excellent fowl. Read it again.........Pop

 

[ninny]

Thanks! Im really wanting to get into rarer breeds so that would be great to do.

Okay so i buy two birds. Breed all babies back to parents then all grandchicks to grandbirds? After 5 years swap?