Crossbreeding

[jenjscott]

Ryu, are you talking about outcrossing to another breed, or to another line. I know that low fertility is one of the biggies that crops up in a closed line.

 

[Ryu]

Yes, I'm talking about outcrossing to a different breed.

One they both mentioned is changes in egg shape. The dreaded Ping Pong Ball egg is a big sign of bad trouble. I've had some experience with that one. The eggs look absolutely round, sometimes the generation before will have a capsule looking egg, where the 'big' end is hard to discern from the 'small' end. In the case of Standard Cornish, where the chicks are really big in proportion to egg size, it is absolutely critical for the 'Big End' to actually be big so they can move their heads to pip. I'm in my F2 generation after outcrossing to survive a Ping Pong Egg crisis. I

I don't know if they would appreciate me talking too specifically about their flocks, but sometimes you will get a physical offtype from an established line (like a straight comb instead of a Pea or Rose). I've been told to not cull those individuals and 'carefully' put them back into the breeding program. Both believed that this comb variation represented an important linkage of genes that it was important for vitality to maintain it at some level.

If you are looking for an early indicator, Rate of Gain is a good place to start. I am going to be weighing chicks weekly until they are out of the brooder this year. A decrease in Rate of Gain is an indicator that vitality is being lost. One even suggested culling for Rate of Gain.

From my discussions in these flocks I got the impression that new blood was being added every 7-10 years depending on the breed and necessity.

 

[McSpin]

Outcrossing is fun, but you really can't predict what you are going to get. If you don't mind being a bit disappointed, go for it. Rather than trying to re-create a dual purpose bird, you might want to start out with one. For cold weather, you'd be hard pressed to beat the buckeye or a good wyandotte. Even my large-combed delawares seem to be handling winter quite well. I'd probably recommend staying away from show lines, where production is often a lower priority. You may even find that a cross between something like a wyandotte and a delaware or buckeye to wyandotte, to be what you want. Pea comb is dominant and would give the desirable shorter comb for cold climates and the outcross could bring in some hybrid vigor that would increase growth rates and/or size. There are quite a few breeds that will start laying by 18-20 weeks, but it's not that much sooner than 6 months unless you go with a pure production type breed.

 

[bigstack]

When I first joined BYC my intention was to breed pure JG's for 3 years. Then add a few crosses of Australorp to increase egg production. Then continue with the JG-Austro crosses. I have now decided against that. After alot of conversation and research I am going to keep the line pure. I will just introduce new Quality blood/genes when needed.

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[Chang1993]

I don't really see any crossbreed in show, just only sizzles. I was wondering if I could show this chickens breed, Ayam Cemani x Thai. Here are 12 chicks of 1/4 Ayam Cemani 3/4 Thai. Mother was a full thai hen, father was 1/2 Ayam Cemani 1/2 Thai. They will came in white or black meat depending. Are these showable?