Hello, Im a newer flock keeper (well had barnyard mutt chickens as a kid but that was sooo long ago I dont think it counts, heh.) Ive picked out a few breed favorites to play with and am in the process of rearing up my first generation. As Im closing in on the time to make choices on who to keep and who not Ive been avidly soaking up all the information I can on what I should be looking for. Im not looking to show but I would like to keep to the breed standard direction.
My main question is how to prioritize defects, that is, which defects are easier to breed out and which should be culled.
Ive read and agree strongly that a good temperament is something to be strived for and excessive aggression is one defect that I will not tolerate hanging around. (Unless its for dinner)
Secondly I believe any deformity should also be removed from the gene pool, bent toes, cross beak and such issues.
But when it comes to the grayer conformation issues I can understand the concept of aiming for the perfection (and am becoming a bit of a genetics junky, High School Biology finally pays off!) but Im thinking there must be some sort of priority list on what to primarily breed for and then what would be the less dominate traits to fix in further generations.
When it comes to the point to chose between birds who have some but not all of the characteristics you are looking for, which characteristics are ones to initially strive for and which traits are ones to work on in later generations?
-Body Shape
-Tail Shape and Carriage
-Wing Carriage and Structure
-Comb and Wattle Structure and Size
-Earlobe Color
-Skin and Leg Color
-Feathering Type and Coloration
-Other?
Would appreciate any input, Thanks!
My main question is how to prioritize defects, that is, which defects are easier to breed out and which should be culled.
Ive read and agree strongly that a good temperament is something to be strived for and excessive aggression is one defect that I will not tolerate hanging around. (Unless its for dinner)
Secondly I believe any deformity should also be removed from the gene pool, bent toes, cross beak and such issues.
But when it comes to the grayer conformation issues I can understand the concept of aiming for the perfection (and am becoming a bit of a genetics junky, High School Biology finally pays off!) but Im thinking there must be some sort of priority list on what to primarily breed for and then what would be the less dominate traits to fix in further generations.
When it comes to the point to chose between birds who have some but not all of the characteristics you are looking for, which characteristics are ones to initially strive for and which traits are ones to work on in later generations?
-Body Shape
-Tail Shape and Carriage
-Wing Carriage and Structure
-Comb and Wattle Structure and Size
-Earlobe Color
-Skin and Leg Color
-Feathering Type and Coloration
-Other?
Would appreciate any input, Thanks!