I'd like to hear this other discussion expanded upon. In regard to choosing birds for the qualities that you want to see more of in your birds, if you have several females and a male or two showing these traits, would you band them all red? My question being this... if you have lots of birds, each individually showing traits you want to keep, and the goal is to combine all these traits, do you set up each clan with the different traits you're looking to achieve? The best way to do things is by breeding for traits instead of maintaining families?
Also, do you think it is important to wait until the bird is in it's second year before using to breed from, so you know what you have?
In the event something like this happens, is this one of those situations where you would put that clan with another male for a short time, toss the eggs, and then put the intended male in there instead? I've been thinking about this lately. Dragonlady does this with her Orps. Once she finds a fantastic breeding, she sticks with it but because the female's body (and I don't recall the name of the process) basically rejects the male and so the resultant chicks from the same fantastic cross, with no other rooster between, are less than desirable. Do you practice this type of mating?
Do you also trap nest within the clan so you know exactly what each pullet/hen is producing or just do clan matings?
You select matings of 3 pullets and one hen... is there a process you use to select which hen to keep rather than replace her with a pullet?
The short article I posted is just basic principle, you can adapt it to whatever qualities you personally want to see. I have a selection process I go through, simplified it is 1. Vigor and growth rate 2. Type 3. Production Qualities 4. Color. I have no problem keeping extra birds, but my breeders are selected to compliment each other. If one bird is lacking a bit in chest for example and outstanding in tail, I will not pair them with a bird that has a weak chest, even if they have an exceptional everything else. This goes on in each clan. For instance EVERY chick hatched from the Red Clan would be banded with a red band, and culled/selected against it's own clan only. I will say that this style of breeding works best for people who intend to maintain a closed flock, or are in a rare breed. otherwise yes you could probably make faster improvements with other methods (for instance in a popular color of Old English Game I might use a different method), It is also really good at maintaining an even level of quality throughout flock. I would, if space allowed, prefer to breed from older birds yes. When first starting with a line or trying to establish it you might like the speed of using younger birds (of course with my Langshans rate of growth is one of the first things I want to improve because they're basically 10 month or more when ready anyway)
In the event I got that really awesome pairing I would just leave everything in stasis. Let's say it was a year that my Red Clan males were in with my Green Clan females, I would repeat the exact pairing (including the same birds) the following year. The following year I might make changes based on age of birds, or having multiple superior birds from those clans.
I do not trap nest, but I do keep records of which birds are in the pen that year (every bird has two bands, one solid color for clan and one numbered band for individual ID.) Egg laying qualities I rely on the Hogan method.
In the Langshan breedings that I shared I am keeping the Hens because I want to produce more offspring this coming year. I have multiple reasons for doing so, primarily because I want to get more of them out there in the Pacific Northwest, so I need birds to sell cheaply, to donate to 4H clubs and breeder auctions, etc. Otherwise I would use complimentary mating to make my selections. Like Mr. Blosl would always say there's Breeding 101 (the article I posted with no variables) and then there's Breeding 103 Breeding 405 etc. I am still following the basic structure, but will supplement it as needed.
That paragraph was clunky, let me try again. If a bird is in the pen it's because I think it will be a complimentary mating. The number of females I put in the pen is not a factor of age, it's based on how many I want to get out. For instance, if I'm successful spreading Langshans around the Northwest, I'd probably cut down to pairs and trios, because I wouldn't need to produce as many offspring to distribute. In 5 years when my line has been through one complete revolution of clans, the line should be very set and I won't need to hatch as many for myself to continue improving.
The reason I will follow this structure is because I would rather not be constantly importing birds into my lines once they are set. Rotating through this kind of structure insures a good blending of the lines I'm combining, sets traits, and keeps genetic diversity. If I build my lines and program on this foundation, I won't have to seek out what are some fairly rare varieties and breeds. All three breeds will benefit from this, and I won't get stuck.
After this year and a lot of thought I'm doing one other thing that most people probably don't do. I'm going on a strict calendar (well, will be headed that way anyway). All Large Fowl for personal use are to be hatched Jan-Feb (This year will include March due to late hatches which I don't want to repeat) Bantams for personal use and supplemental Large Fowl (In case I need more splash, or Blue, or whatever) will be hatched in March and April. This will allow me to still sell chicks and eggs if demand is there, and have everything I want to select and cull from mature at the right times for winter laying and show season in the Northwest.
Wow that was long winded. I'm bad at this but wanted to share what I'm doing and maybe someone can learn from it. Or not.
Edit: Please ask if you want me to clarify anything.
kudos!
