Do you have DOn's email?? He is happy to talk with you via email and answer even the most mundane questions.Thank you Rick and Arielle, I really appreciate your replies.
Rick: your comment exactly reflects my dilemma--do I start a new line, or stick with tried and true? Why reinvent the wheel esp. when excellent lineage already exists? My main goal really is to maintain or continue the breed per the SOP--meat and daily egg production.
Arielle: I met Don Schrider who was part of a seminar I attended last year. (Actually, it was he that put the you-can-even-create-your-own-line bug in my ear). Although Don quickly brushed on the topic of breeding, I really wished the WHOLE seminar revolved around that.
So, if I go by what Mr. Schrider recommends; start with what you have; go with 3 families; select the best from them; mate; select, and so on...would I need a chicken house...?
Perhaps I should just get a new flock from an existing lineage
Ultimately you will create your own line even if you start with only 1 line originally. YOu will put your own stamp on what you breed, and that will show in the future generations een if itis not apparent in the first few.
Part of DOn's buckeye project, in my view, was to add vigor and increase growth weight and body weight in the buckeye. He was able to increase the 16 wk weight by a full pound from what I have read. In the hands of other breeders, has that been maintained, or have other aspects been focued on for improvement-- my point is that each breeder brings his/her own influence to the breed.
YOu will have to be the one to decide what to do. Here is a hint. When I communicated with DOn he recommended stock from a number of breeders and to keep a 3 pen rotation going, even if the the pens were actually shared among 2-3 breeders. FOr ex. I was thinking of working with a person who has only one line, andperhaps if I kept 2 pens, I got a male from him every 1-2 years as he would get a male from me every 1-2 years. THat would maintain a 3 pen rotation. All the lines were ALBC lines recommended now in the hands of other breeders.
If you just want to save ONE line, please consider MR Rhodes. He has a very old line of good stock. It was used in making the ALBC line and needs support as Mr RHodes has slowed down in breeding and my fear is his birds will disappear.
Remember your birds can flock together during the none breeding season, then be separated for the breeding season. Birds need to be clearly marked as to original pens. Toe punch and wingband seem to be the popular methods of clear and permanent ID. Canyou free range, or are you limited to a penned situation? 2 males per pen and 3-6 females per pen to winter over would be my suggestion. ( Heir and a spare on the males.)