Hens first or roo first?

[Weirdness555]

You never know what weird things will turn up with brother-sister interbreeding

I wouldn't want any chicks with 6 toes or 2 heads

 

[newbie32]

You never know what weird things will turn up with brother-sister interbreeding

I wouldn't want any chicks with 6 toes or 2 heads

Actually I just looked it up because I had never thought of it before. Chicks ordered from hatcheries are very unlikely to be related. And if I isolate the hen and roo fro mating purposes and then shove the eggs under a broody hen, I can keep track of linage and not have to introduce new blood for at least 5 years.

 

[Weirdness555]

We don't really have hatcheries over here No feed stores either. Mostly, you can get pure bred chicks from hobby breeders, or you can get commercial hybrids from businesses that sell hens for the garden, and then it's usually only point of lay pullets available. Besides, we wanted pure breeds

Also, because we're only having a small flock (about 6 birds) and we're not doing any serious breeding for sale or showing, we will only ever have one rooster, so if he were related to some of our hens I would be worried about breeding from those hens. I know that it's unlikely that something serious would show up, but it's best to err on the side of caution. Also, it means that they will be likely to have the same faults, so if we ever did show or sell chicks to someone who shows they would have serious faults because their parents had the same fault.

 

[newbie32]

We don't really have hatcheries over here No feed stores either. Mostly, you can get pure bred chicks from hobby breeders, or you can get commercial hybrids from businesses that sell hens for the garden, and then it's usually only point of lay pullets available. Besides, we wanted pure breeds

Also, because we're only having a small flock (about 6 birds) and we're not doing any serious breeding for sale or showing, we will only ever have one rooster, so if he were related to some of our hens I would be worried about breeding from those hens. I know that it's unlikely that something serious would show up, but it's best to err on the side of caution. Also, it means that they will be likely to have the same faults, so if we ever did show or sell chicks to someone who shows they would have serious faults because their parents had the same fault.

I plan to breed but only to keep my flock going. Where do you live? I know hatcheries deliver through the mail all over the U.S. I think the only way for you to not have to purchase new blood would be to have 2 roosters and keep diligent records of the hens that are being caged and with what rooster. Otherwise rent a rooster

 

[Weirdness555]

I live in England, no hatcheries in the country. We're not planning on breeding in any big way, I mainly want a rooster for flock protection, and because they look nice. If we produce chicks we will probably keep all of them, and they will only be to refresh the flock.

 

[newbie32]

I know a lot of people on this site buy eggs for incubating from England so they will probably sell a rooster. There are lots of people on here form England. Go find them and ask if someone wants to get rid of a roo. I'm sure you can find somebody

 

[Weirdness555]

I will look around when we need one, thanks

 

[newbie32]

Your very welcome. Hope you get a really pretty one!

 

[Weirdness555]

Thanks