I An Idea For All of You, do you agree (concerns My Genetics Opinion)

[speckledhen]

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I agree with Robin. I'd prefer not to help a chick hatch, of course, however, I have encountered some who simply grew too large for the eggs they were in and needed help to get out. Those thrived, no issues, just were Baby Huey sized kiddos. And one hen I have lays eggs that are quite narrow across, but the chicks are large (BBS Orps), so they do need help on occasion.

As far as projects go, why not? If you have a specific goal in mind with the breeding, it's a project. No harm in that, anymore than there is harm in allowing your different breeds to mingle and produce barnyard mix chicks.

 

[cochinman2005]

No not at all. Did you email me or call? If it was an email, my bad, send me another. Was it large or bantam GL's? For bantams I can't make any suggestions. For Large Fowl, I wouldn't say that I am ready to distribute what I am working with just yet, maybe next year. Doesn't have to be a large scale operation. The more the merrier and I will usually help out if I can, but by the same token won't let birds go if I don't think they are ready or if it will short my breeding program. You'll find that once you get most breeders talking, there is nothing they like talking about more than chickens. For me it's a precarious balancing act between, family (college aged kids), work (travel for work) and the birds so time for answering emails and phone calls is scattered in between.

 

[Luke0987654321]

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DITTO!

 

[usschicago1]

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I agree with Robin. I'd prefer not to help a chick hatch, of course, however, I have encountered some who simply grew too large for the eggs they were in and needed help to get out. Those thrived, no issues, just were Baby Huey sized kiddos. And one hen I have lays eggs that are quite narrow across, but the chicks are large (BBS Orps), so they do need help on occasion.

As far as projects go, why not? If you have a specific goal in mind with the breeding, it's a project. No harm in that, anymore than there is harm in allowing your different breeds to mingle and produce barnyard mix chicks.

You know, it isnt any of my business, and im not trying to make it my business. We've all Crossed birds before, and thats fun and great, thats how you learn My first flock when i was six was all Old EnglishX Aracauna Crosses. But, with so many breeds on the brink of extinction, i think it is better to help get those back and thrive.Or even having breeds that are not rare, its still better than (all)crosses. At the moment there is no harm, but imagine if everyone just crossed there chickens, we wouldst have anymore breeds! Cynthia, You have heritage Delawares and orps, and you occasionally cross, and thats fine. But if thats all you did was cross , you wouldnt be helping any breeds, and thats where the harm is . Wich was what i was saying, in the long run its not beneficial unless you really know what your crossing for.


Cochinman: I agree with you 100% and if you really had to intervene i guess that would be the time, since you know when, as others stated. But i dont, no where near experienced enough, so i would rather hatch more eggs and not help then less and help.

 

[usschicago1]

I wanted to Add i don't want to knock people down and i think what everyone does is threw good intentions. I love to see so much interest in a lot of people. A lot of you I deeply Admire. I feel like a Snob sorta and that wasn't how i wanted to come off. I am really looking at the breeds interests and not our own

 

[robin416]

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All you have to do is ask there are enough of us here that would be more than happy to give you the answers. Those of us that do it had a learning curve just like there was for raising these guys. Its not difficult when you know what to watch for if you decide to intervene.

 

[big medicine]

To me, what differentiates crossbreeding and a project is having a plan and a goal that you are working toward. Not that one can't develop from the other, the difference is having a desired end product in mind.

I think the reason more folks take on new "projects" rather than trying to help an at risk existing breed might be multiple. For one the difficulty of getting stock for a start in a at risk breed may deter the less determined potential breeders. Which, in my opinion, is not necessarily a bad thing, for losing interest, and possibly losing, or doing potential harm to a limited breeding pool, to me does more harm than never having started at all. This sort of weeds out some of those that more than likely lacked the gumption to stay with something that will require such a substantial long term comitment. Those that go through the trouble to get a start will be more likely to stick with it.

Keeping a flock of rare breed for the public trust as it were, is a pretty heady responsibility. Much less pressure playing around with project birds that no one would miss if something unfortunate were to happen.

 

[speckledhen]

Mark, I don't have any actual projects going and I really never have done any--not enough money or pens for that here. I don't even have an interest in doing a project, but I'm fine with breeding projects anyone wants to do, as long as the birds are properly cared for. I kept a small flock of good quality Delawares and was able to get many eggs out to folks who will continue to breed and improve them (or "renovate" them as a breed, since they were almost extinct for a long time). That was the whole scope of my purpose and I feel I fulfilled that. So, I'm not trying to do anything now except enjoy my flock.

I think preserving heritage and endangered breeds is really a different subject than a breeding project, though. They may overlap, but also, can be two completely separate issues.

 

[Happy Chooks]

So for people who are starting out with breeding, it's better to start with an endangered breed and screw them up?

I have plans to do both, breed rare breeds (hopefully not screw them up) and make my "mutts". (mostly via olive eggers) But there is something relaxing about breeding X to Y and seeing what you get without all the SOP stuff like comb, type, size, feathered or no feathered shanks, perfect coloring. Easing into the genetic stuff so to speak.

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

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Hey Tom! It's Heather...we've emailed several times about cochins and most recently about the Golden Laced which you know I'm working on, too! (I sent you pictures of my birds). I didn't realize you were on here, too! Anyway, sorry to hi-jack!