To start, MFD's are not broody. Never seen any look twice at an egg, as a matter of fact, so plan on using a quality incubator, or two...
They are really pretty late to develop their color...at LEAST a year, more like 18 months.
"Incest" in chickens isn't really quite the same as other species. You can see problems, but several generations down the road. I think you'll be just fine, just introduce some new blood from time to time from quality stock, and you shouldn't have any problems.
Cull chicks with obvious problems from the get-go, but DON'T cull/rehome for color until they are at least a year old. And, I'm sure you've already thought of this, but keep your definite breeders segregated from the younger birds, until you can get an idea of how the color is developing.
To start, MFD's are not broody. Never seen any look twice at an egg, as a matter of fact, so plan on using a quality incubator, or two...
They are really pretty late to develop their color...at LEAST a year, more like 18 months.
"Incest" in chickens isn't really quite the same as other species. You can see problems, but several generations down the road. I think you'll be just fine, just introduce some new blood from time to time from quality stock, and you shouldn't have any problems.
Cull chicks with obvious problems from the get-go, but DON'T cull/rehome for color until they are at least a year old. And, I'm sure you've already thought of this, but keep your definite breeders segregated from the younger birds, until you can get an idea of how the color is developing.
And, good luck!!
thank you....all my MFD's are babies "4 days old". Should i just wait the 18 month's before i breed so i can pick the best feathered ones for the job?? Or will i have to make a good guess early only..." say 4 month's " if i want to start breeding early??
To start, MFD's are not broody. Never seen any look twice at an egg, as a matter of fact, so plan on using a quality incubator, or two...
I have a porcelain d'uccle bantam and she has been broody befor... and she is very protective of the eggs, she will lay on them all night and if you try to touch them she will peck you.. i dont usually get lucky in the broody department but i guess i kinda did this time..?
I dont know if mypetchicken knows about the breed very well or not but on there breeds page it says that they are/can go broody.
But i would probably use a incubator too if i where you just to be safe....
Quote:
I have a porcelain d'uccle bantam and she has been broody befor... and she is very protective of the eggs, she will lay on them all night and if you try to touch them she will peck you.. i dont usually get lucky in the broody department but i guess i kinda did this time..?
I dont know if mypetchicken knows about the breed very well or not but on there breeds page it says that they are/can go broody.
But i would probably use a incubator too if i where you just to be safe....
To start, MFD's are not broody. Never seen any look twice at an egg, as a matter of fact, so plan on using a quality incubator, or two...
Pleas tell that to these guys:
They all 4 went broody earlier this year. I ended up braeking them of it and selling off two of the girls. I now have one of those original 4 that refuses to quit sitting. She is OBSESSED with all the eggs and steals them to see how big a nest she can make. She threw everyone out of the coop by their head the other day.
Also as far as the brother potentially being the dad and not getting as much spangling. I have two young pullets from such a cross. They are about 18 weeks old and one has too much spangling and the other is Ok.
I love these little hens and rehomed the roos but wish I would have kept one
That's so funny, PJ. I've never had any of my MFDs go broody. But, people say the same about Sebrights, and mine go broody all the time. Just recently, I could've taken the very same pic with my Sebrights-4 broodies in the same nest box for 3 weeks. lol
he's 2 and didn't get the color (white) in the tail untill his first full adult molt, ( the ladies like to pick his foot feathers, they are normaly alot better looking)