Inbreeding issues

[K0k0shka]

I sent you a message with a pic of my newest lady, Felicity, I hatched, it may give you a new avenue and new hope!

Ooooh! Gonna go check it out now.

 

[NatJ]

I've always wondered, if supposedly in-breeding isn't such a big deal in chickens, then why do purebred chickens (especially the ones coming from small hobby breeders) have so many issues. I have all but given up on my favorite breed and color variety, because they've had SO many health problems - from poor hatch rates, to early deaths, heart problems, physical deformities, etc.... and they all came from a small hobby breeder with small gene pools.

It sounds like yours do have a problem.

This is one of those "it depends" situations. Some levels of inbreeding are fine. Some higher levels of inbreeding are fine in some cases but not in others.

I can't remember where, but I once saw a statement that inbreeding concentrates all the traits of the animals or plants involved: the good traits and the bad ones. So whether it causes problems at all, and how soon the problems show up, will have a lot to do with what traits are being concentrated.

 

[Barnyardmixmom]

Inbreeding doesnt cause any issues for 5+ generations at least ill let you know come spring because my line is 5x and never had any issues so you should be good to go.

This is good to know! I have a very sweet buff orpington roo that was gifted to me as a chick. Originally named Charlotte, it's now Charlie - haha! He's never been scary with me or my grandchildren, but he's really hard on my favorite hen. Last spring I incubated 14 eggs and got seven pullets and six cockerels - all Charlie's offspring. I kept one beautiful male that was obviously my easter egger's son. My husband named him Gregory Peck. Charlie and my three remaining older hens are in our orchard coop and my seven new hens and Gregory are in my yard coop. Eight is the perfect number for my 32 sq ft yard coop. I could switch out Gregory for Charlie to give my older hens some peace, but I was worried about inbreeding when I want to incubate new eggs next spring. Thanks for reassuring me that this would probably be ok.

 

[Barnyardmixmom]

It sounds like yours do have a problem.

This is one of those "it depends" situations. Some levels of inbreeding are fine. Some higher levels of inbreeding are fine in some cases but not in others.

I can't remember where, but I once saw a statement that inbreeding concentrates all the traits of the animals or plants involved: the good traits and the bad ones. So whether it causes problems at all, and how soon the problems show up, will have a lot to do with what traits are being concentrated.

Are your chickens sexlinks? I've read there can be lots of problems if they have offspring.

 

[NatJ]

Are your chickens sexlinks? I've read there can be lots of problems if they have offspring.

You quoted my post, but I was talking about the chickens that belong to someone else (the person I quoted). About their chickens, the only information I have is what their post said:

I have all but given up on my favorite breed and color variety, because they've had SO many health problems - from poor hatch rates, to early deaths, heart problems, physical deformities, etc.... and they all came from a small hobby breeder with small gene pools.

Based on that, I would guess those chickens are not sexlinks, but I really don't know for sure.

 

[K0k0shka]

You quoted my post, but I was talking about the chickens that belong to someone else (the person I quoted). About their chickens, the only information I have is what their post said:


Based on that, I would guess those chickens are not sexlinks, but I really don't know for sure.

Those are my chickens, and they are not sexlinks. They are English Orpingtons. I have several colors that all came from the same breeder, and the other colors are fine. Just one specific color variation - Red Partridge - I ordered several years in a row hoping it was just a fluke, and each batch had a high rate of problems. 5 years on, I have none of them left. That was an experimental color listed as a “project breed” that was under development, which makes me think he was inbreeding a small number of chickens trying to get the look he wants and to build up numbers. And ended up with a lot of side effects…