Help Breeder will only sell straight runs

[Flybybirds]

I want to start a small flock of Chocolate Orpingtons. The only breeders I can find that have these birds will only sell straight runs even though they have several different lines they can access. I surely understand selling straight runs because I do also. The difference is simple. Most chickens don't cost as much as rare breeds. If get straight runs without the breeder marking the eggs I risk the almost sure possibility that I could be breeding brother to sister. I am an exotic parrot breeder and know the outcome which will happen sooner or later and I will be weakening my flocks gene pool. Any ideas? Help will be appreciated for SURE!!!!!

 

[LTygress]

I want to start a small flock of Chocolate Orpingtons.  The only breeders I can find that have these birds will only sell straight runs even though they have several different lines they can access. I surely understand selling straight runs because I do also.  The difference is simple. Most chickens don't cost as much as rare breeds.  If get straight runs without the breeder marking the eggs I risk the almost sure possibility that I could be breeding brother to sister.  I am an exotic parrot breeder and know the outcome which will happen sooner or later and I will be weakening my flocks gene pool.  Any ideas?  Help will be appreciated for SURE!!!!!

Straight run means they aren't SEXED. So you don't know if you are getting male or female. It doesn't have anything to do with breed or even lineage for that matter.

 

[aoxa]

What do you mean? Straight run ONLY means male and female chicks. It does not mean they will be brother/sister. They could likely be, but usually that is not an issue with good breeders.. They'd have a good amount of girls to one male.. Likely more like half siblings, which is fine. Brother x Sister is not going to result in a lot of issues.

It will show many strengths, but also weaknesses as well.. but that has nothing to do with straight run.

 

[LTygress]

To expand a bit on aoxa's post, some really excellent breeders will do in-breeding on purpose. In-breeding (mother to son, father to daughter, and even brother to sister) is ONLY a problem if there is an unidentified recessive gen in the line somewhere that actually could cause deformities or other unwanted problems. But many color varieties and other traits are ONLY discovered through inbreeding.

As a matter of fact, most of the DESIRABLE gene mutations are popular as the result of inbreeding (such as frizzle).

 

[Flybybirds]

I understand what straight run means. The breeders I have contacted have told me their stock will be from two to four different lines, which means that there straight runs will have not only unsexed chicks, which I know, but those chicks that I would use for breeding could be brother and sister. I can breed brother and sister Yellow Naped Amazons. Their babies or most of them will be normal but some will not. I do not want this problem.

 

[aoxa]

I understand what straight run means. The breeders I have contacted have told me their stock will be from two to four different lines, which means that there straight runs will have not only unsexed chicks, which I know, but those chicks that I would use for breeding could be brother and sister. I can breed brother and sister Yellow Naped Amazons. Their babies or most of them will be normal but some will not. I do not want this problem.

Very unlikely with chickens. I have many times bred brother to sister, nothing health related has come up at all.

Once you breed the first time brother to sister, try to stick with mother, son, father daughter after that. That is linebreeding, and is a big asset when breeding.

In my breeding pens this year (since I started from scratch after a fire), I have a lot of half siblings. Even some full siblings. Not worried about it for this first year.

 

[Flybybirds]

That's great news. Guess I will go with the straight run then.
In order to strengthen the gene pool can I introduce a Black Orpington Rooster to my Chocolate hens or would it be better to breed the daughters of the hens? Or won't this help.

 

[Fred28]

I breed rare orpingtons, and genetic diversity has never effected my birds. I always breed for trates, body size, coloration, or type. Cull out what you don't want, and see what the next round brings you. Most of the people that run in Orpington circles that have the financial means have gotten there birds from two sources if they acquired them before 2012. A source in Florida, pricy and reliable, and an English gentleman, more pricy, but the finest example of Orpingtons on this side of the pond. Now there are several more NPIP breeders bringing them in. As for the chocolate Orpington, most of them have been project birds utilizing the US black Orpington. Out of all of the Orpington colors, I'd say they are the most diverse bird in the US. If you haven't found any birds, PM me and I can you give you some reliable NPIP sources that are reasonable. Good luck and happy chickning.