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

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Thanks For Your Input

 

[Black Cochin Bantams]

My 2 cents worth. I think all of the posts have some merit. If you really read them and think about it everyone has made valid points. I never help a chick that is set under a hen. I have and will sometimes help an egg that is stuck to the inside of shell as that means I probably made a mistake while using my incubator.

I have my slant on projects. I spent over a year looking for some quality Columbian Cochins to get a flock started. I finally was able to purchase 2 pairs for which I am so grateful. While I was looking I was steered towards many birds that came from quality flocks. Sometimes the person had none to sell but too often I found they had been bought for a project (Mille) and then disposed of after the cross was made(swap meets or sold but didn't remember who bought them). What really bothers me about that is Columbians could use both serious and hobby flock folks to try to improve the breed/variety. We can use more people involved in pure bred varities as it only takes one disaster to wipe out lifetimes worth of work forever. That would be a shame. Please consider preservation of pure bred poulty as a valid project that can be both fun and fulfilling.

 

[darkmatter]

I agree 100% with the OP. I raise "mutts" and learned the hard way not to try and help out the hatching or make "boots" for deformed toes. I'm slowly working towards a mutt breed adapted for my Midwest climate dual purpose eggs and meat.

 

[usschicago1]

Thanks Guys! Goodluck darkmatter on your birds.

 

[High Roost Ranch]

Quote:
I thought that was YOUR project.

It's mine.

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k304/racuda00/project.jpg

FUNNY POST ^

 

[High Roost Ranch]

I originally would help chicks out, because for one, they tugged at my heart strings, and two, I needed them for a project that I started in January 2003 and am still working on as I write this. My project hit the milestone several years ago and now I'm dabbling in side projects within that ONE breed, basically on varieties and determining sex linking, etc. I am now at the point and slightly hardened to the fact that in the long run, helping out ALL chicks is an unwise decision. Luckily in my case the less thrifty ones in the beginning were weeded out by survival of the fittest as they grew up, so they didn't contribute to my bloodline. I had a miserable year this year hatching call ducks. Last year I was over run with them, this year, 2 hatched that I insisted on helping out of the shell, and I lost both within a week. This last batch, 2 started hatching and I refused to help them out. They made it out on their own and are 2 weeks old now and are thriving. I didn't let incubator issues influence me at the end on the calls, as much as I needed young stock to carry on for the probably 100 eggs I set and only have 2 to show for all that. I DO agree it's generally speaking a case by case issue on helping and why, there are instances mentioned that I agree warrant helping, mainly incubation malfunctions. Across the board though, I generally don't help anymore.

As far as projects, every breed has it's down fall with those involved that perhaps are not doing the project any favor. As a buyer or fellow potential breeder, you just have to know what to look for, know what you want and why and just don't buy the stock if it's not worthy. I'm not one to tell anyone what to do with their birds they care for and pay the feed bill on. And if I want to take on a project, it's no one else's business if I do so. I have large fowl yard birds that are my table egg layers, that I have let crossbreed over the years, and will this wasn't intentional, the size of my eggs and the vigor of my birds are far superior to any eggs I could buy at the store and if I were to process my own birds, they would be much better than store bought. They are my personal birds, for my own personal use. I don't try to push them on others or sell them as something they are not.

Each breed has its spotlight and marketing high light. Seramas, Carnation Sussex, Marans, MF Cochins, and tomorrow it will be ???

 

[muddstopper]

Dang, what a silly thread. I am just wondering what everyone would think of my buckeye x blrw x black australope x cuckoo marans. Would these birds be worth any money. I am only using these breeds to breed in each breeds specific trait. The BE are good cold weather layers, the blrW are pretty, the BA lay lots of eggs and the CM large extra large eggs. I think there should be a good market for such a chicken.

 

[TK Poultry]

WOW this is all way over my head, but I only skimmed through some of the posts and got a semi-headache reading all of the charged responses.

I have one question. What fueled all of these questions about projects and helping chicks hatch and even responsible breeding?

*I know I'm gulity as charged when it comes to shrink wrapping ducklings in particular, and I helped like half of my hatch of 24 because of it and they all lived until I killed them because I drowned them on accident, because I put in the wrong waterer at the wrong time! I'm a teenage kid trying to learn while I do it. IMHO I think I'm doing an ok job because with my ducks I have 3 Best Medium Ducks and 2 Reserve Medium Duck titles under my belt in only a year!

I also have another question. When do you deem a crossing a project?

*I have been tossing around starting a duck "project". But, I have a whole genetic plan wrote down on paper and a goal. I want a specific thing. Is that what you would call a project? I breed all of my birds to the standard and would any project bird as well. Does this make me a responsible breeder?

Does age matter in regards to responsible breeding? I'm fifteen does this make me irresponsible from the git? Can I not do as well as someone in their thirties of forties?

These are more questions than opinions but I would like these answered.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! I wouldn't've responded at all but for the title "I An Idea For All of You, do you agree (concerns My Genetics Opinion)". When I read the post, I didn't agree with any of the thoughts presented.
With only one exception, for every breed I've used in crosses, I keep pens of those 'pure bred' birds and breed toward that breeds standard. That is why I thought the original post was just silly and the thoughts of an immature mind. I got your point and it was insulting to anyone not a 'professional or a genetics guro' (haha).
edit: Age can't possibly be an issue.
edited again: I wish I realized what fun and how interesting breeding chickens could be when I was younger. Chickens were just always around, but I didn't appreciate them.

Lisa

 

[TK Poultry]

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I brought up the issue of age because if the only responsible breeders were professionals then when are you considered a professional. I just thought the whole OP was just kind of immature. Why would one care what another does with his or hers birds? Its all a game of decisions you have to make them yourself! i just wanted the OPer to answer these for me