d'uccles- which rooster to keep for breeding

[NateinFL]

The more you have to work with, the better. It just all depends on your restrictions on space and coop sizes.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
very true, at the very least, you really need two cocks each with a group of hens. mark each set of chicks so you can tell who came from who, then, the next year you can cross breed the 2 pens together or their off spring to keep from having too much inbreeding as that can cause weak or sterile offspring down the road as Nate was saying.
I usually toe punch or just clip a toe to mark the chicks for this.
Once you get the quality you like you can line breed a bit (always better to come off a little money and buy some high quality new lines to work with though)
If you do line breed, do it correctly, parent to offspring. This way they are only sharing 1 copy of thier genetic make up, where as brother to sister (back crossing) will be sharing both copies of identical genetics. That's where the problems come in the quickest, offspring to offspring.
But if you had those two sets of unrelated breeding groups, this wont be too much of a problem as you'll always have unrelated lines to work with.
Also like Nate said, millies are tuff to judge when young in any breed, my d'anver millies are the same way, especially on color patterning. You'll think for sure it's going to be hidious at 4 months, but by 8 months they'll be getting excellent color.
Look for nice , clear, tight V's in the chest mottling, and good mottling on the tips of each tail feather in the cocks especially, without that, they'll get shot down at any show.
Good luck with them and keep up the progress!!

 

[lilcrow]

Dang it! I must have written this message a half a dozen times and lost it, so I think there is a message in that. Let me just begin by saying, I'm glad to see everyone!
In the vein of having lots of birds (lines) to work with, I'm not sure that's a good thing. I think it depends on the lines and how they match up with each other. I think some may work together and others may be disastrous. I don't know if it's a "craps shoot" or a gut feeling when you go to crossing lines. I've got someones line that I'm thinking of trying with mine.
I was so sure in the beginning, but now I'm getting cold feet.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Quote:
obviosly dont use lower grades for it, but it's a must, you cant just keep breeding one line to itself over and over, we're talking years now, not just 1 or 2 seasons, over time, even the best genetics will break down and cause problems due to the lack of genetic diversity.
There's no way you can be a productive breeder without the introduction of new lines from time to time.

 

[NateinFL]

Quote:
Hi Nancy!! Yup, that's exactly what it is. I think it works this way with people too sometimes. Thanks BBB, didnt know about the "tight V's" in chest mottling, I'll have to check and see if there's a difference in any of my juveniles.

 

[lilcrow]

Quote:
Hi Nancy!! Yup, that's exactly what it is. I think it works this way with people too sometimes. Thanks BBB, didn't know about the "tight V's" in chest mottling, I'll have to check and see if there's a difference in any of my juveniles.

Hey Nate!!
So good to hear from your sweet self. Hope all is well with you. I know what you mean about people clicking genetically. I've met a few people that I would say were textbook examples supporting the argument FOR birth control.

Ahhh well.........anyway............
What have you got going on right now. I got some eggs from Lynne in CA and now have a 3 mo old trio from her line. It's very interesting to see how different these birds are from eastern birds, or at least I think that's some of the difference east meets west. Actually, I'm gonna go take some pics right now and see what you think. I think they're beautiful, but very different. I find it fascinating.

 

[orionburn]

Quote:
Looking forward to the pics!

 

[D'Angelo N Va.]

I was off today and I tried to get some good pics. of mine, but they got all flighty on me and the pics. came out blur. i feel bad because I do love them, but I work so much I don't have time to socialize with them all each day like I want...any suggestions for me?

 

[lilcrow]

D'Angelo N Va. :

I was off today and I tried to get some good pics. of mine, but they got all flighty on me and the pics. came out blur. i feel bad because I do love them, but I work so much I don't have time to socialize with them all each day like I want...any suggestions for me?

I don't really "socialize" with my birds all day either. I've got a lot of things going on that get in the way, my health, my mothers health, and the list goes on, even my birds that are my babies don't listen to me when I ask them to pose. They have their own agenda and always want to do their own thing so taking pictures is always a struggle. I've found that the best way for me to get a good shot is to take A LOT of pictures. I just try to get the best shots I can, but I shoot as many as I can because I know that they move, have their eyes closed, etc. I then go through the maybe 30 or 40 pics I took and try to find one or two that are decent.
That's what I'm going to do right now as a matter of fact. I'm going to download the pictures I took this afternoon and hope I have something worthwhile. Mostly I've got my fingers crossed about the little pullet that is my breeding that was hatched by one of my broodies. She is just 2 mo old and SO beautiful. She looks like a miniature MF hen. I've really never seen anything like her. I'm curious to hear what you guys think of her. You may break my heart but that's OK, I need to hear the truth. Anyway, talk to you shortly.​

 

[Megs]

deffinatly second the "take LOTS of pics" and pick the best ones!! i love my birds, and they take a lot of my time, but that is feeding, watering, cleaning etc, does not leave much time for socializing with them, they are "wild" for the most part, lol, especially when they see me coming the camera "oh no that crazy lady is gonna chase us around for half an hour now".