Inbreeding of Chickens

[Randy17]

Ok for give me for a dumb question! I currently have 23 hens, 2 Buff Orphinton Roosters (numbers changeing weekly due to a very brave and lucky fox) and 6 baby chicks that one of my buff hens hatched. I want to incubate a bunch of my eggs so I can add to the flock but should I look at getting rid of my roosters because of inbreeding with the new hens when they are able?



Randy

 

[Brookliner]

You might want to post this on the breeding and genetics forum. You will probably get a lot more feedback.

 

[sumi]

Chickens are different from mammals in that you can breed fathers to daughters and granddaughters without problems. There are a few discussions on the topic of inbreeding and also line breeding here, so if you'd like to, do a search, just type the keywords into the search bar above, and read through some of the threads.

 

[donrae]

It's generally considered okay to breed the same closed flock for a few years before you start needing to think about bringing in new blood. I've bred the same rooster for 4 years and done fine, no little deformed baby chicks or anything like that. I'm not keeping one of his sons to be my main roo as he has a lot of characteristics I like.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Here's a great discussion of poultry breeding techniques that might help you out. http://www.the-coop.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=28027

 

[Randy17]

Thanks for all the help!! I will get the incubator warmed back up!

Randy