I need help!

[Seidenhahn]

I have the breeds and so-called hybrids below, which I would like to crossbreed according to the clan system for a few generations. I have read as much as I could on the forum, but I still don't seem to know anything. So, I thought I would ask the AI's opinion (see screenshots). The problem is that I have no idea if what the AI says is completely CORRECT. I kindly ask the experienced and well-read experts to tell me if the AI's recommendations contain errors and what they are. And what I could do best with my breeds.

So, I have malines (males and females), Indian game (male), classic ranger (females) and redbro (females): how could I cross them endlessly?

Thank you!

 

[MROO]

I have the breeds and so-called hybrids below, which I would like to crossbreed according to the clan system for a few generations. I have read as much as I could on the forum, but I still don't seem to know anything. So, I thought I would ask the AI's opinion (see screenshots). The problem is that I have no idea if what the AI says is completely CORRECT. I kindly ask the experienced and well-read experts to tell me if the AI's recommendations contain errors and what they are. And what I could do best with my breeds.

So, I have malines (males and females), Indian game (male), classic ranger (females) and redbro (females): how could I cross them endlessly?

Thank you!

Let them all range together and they'll do it for you. Who knows? After a while, you could have your own new land race.

 

[Seidenhahn]

Let them all range together and they'll do it for you. Who knows? After a while, you could have your own new land race.

I would love to do something like that (I also have 6 ranger roosters), but the forum is full of information about the nanism gene in almost all meat hybrid roosters.

 

[Ridgerunner]

First, they are describing the spiral breeding method for flock set-up. You can do research for details but basically you keep the females in the same "clan" while rotating the males for each breeding season in a certain sequence. Breeders following this method can usually go many many generations before inbreeding becomes a problem.

A key part of this is that you carefully select your breeders. You only breed from your best in each group. Depending on how many chicks you want that might be the best one rooster and two or three hens from each group. You need to know your goals and choose for those goals. If you do not select for your best breeders you are not going to get great results.

I believe the "nanism" gene is the dwarfism gene that some breeders use to make some of the parent flocks to the Rangers easier and less expensive to feed and maintain. The dwarfism gene is a sex linked recessive gene that can cause dwarfism. But you don't have to worry about that since you only have females. If your Rangers and Redbro are the first generation chicks, only the males have that gene, the females do not. If you have Rangers or Redbro that somebody has been breeding for a few generations then the hens might have it, but since it is a sex linked gene they would show it. If the males only have one copy of it you can't see it but you sure can with the females. Don't use any "small" females. That simple.

When you cross crosses, which you would be doing to get the F-2's, you can get a wide range of results. With the Rangers and Redbro you can see some of that in the F-1's since they are crosses. That's why you only select your best birds each generation for breeding.

You can set up your breeding groups any way you want. You can find pros and cons of mixing the hens by breed in a group or having each group to initially be only one breed of hen. My personal preference would be to start the Malines hens in one group, the Rangers in one group, and the Redbros in the final group. Not because I'm sure that would give you the best final product but more because I'd be interested in how the chicks looked. Since you are choosing the "best" of each generation in each group this would help assure you that all lines are included in your final product.

You can do the males as you wish, maybe using the best Malines as the male in one of the pens. The Indian Game roosters should increase the amount of breast meat in their chicks. I prefer breast meat so I'd use an Indian Game as the male in each pen.

It will probably take you a couple of cycles of breeding to get consistency throughout all of your groups depending some on your selection criteria. My goals for a project like this would be size at butcher age and conformation. Yours may differ. But as always, breed the ones you want to eat and eat the others.

Good luck!