Inbreeding(or line breeding)...?

[77horses]

We have 3 separate flocks of chickens. That means 3 separate coops.

Coop #1: 4 Red Star hens and 1 RIR rooster

Coop #2: 2 Buff Orpington hens and 1 Splash Cochin rooster

Coop #3: 1 Amer. pullet and 1 bantam Cochin pullet(they have the coop to themselves because they are so small and get pecked on a lot)


One of our BO hens(in Coop #2) is broody. The father is the Splash Cochin rooster(of course) but she also has some Red Star eggs under her(which means that the RIR rooster is another father). We separated the breeds because 1. the Red Stars were more bossy to the BO's and 2. we wanted the layers in one(Coop #1), the broody breeds in another(Coop #2), and the small/young breeds in another(Coop #3). So when the eggs hatch and the chicks get old enough, we are going to place them in the coop that they belong in. But I'm worried about the father rooster mating with his own children. For example, if we moved the Red StarXRIR chicks in with the Red Star hens(their mothers) and the RIR rooster(their father), which is Coop #1, wouldn't it be bad for the father to breed with them? We don't want to have to make more separate coops for each generation of chicks that we hatch. Egg layers go in the coop for egg-layers, broody breeds(such as the BO's) go in the coop for broody breeds, and so on.


It's a little confusing, but basically what I'm asking is is it OK to put the next generation of chickens in with their parents? Or would it cause problems if the father mated with them, and we hatched those chicks out, and so on...?

Thanks!

 

[Akane]

Line breeding doesn't cause as many problems in birds as in mammals. It takes several more generations before you may see any genetic issues and if you cull individuals that have bad genetic traits it could be quite awhile before you see any bad effects. Just bring in new blood every few generations and they will be fine.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
OK Thanks!

But isn't it awkward to inbreed? I mean, like the father(rooster) mating with his own children?

I don't know...it just seems strange.

 

[Akane]

Not like the rooster cares or most any other animal for that matter. Since my favorite japanese bantam roo was killed his son has taken over the flock and that includes his mother who is now his favorite hen.

 

[Wynette]

Akane's completely on the spot. The roos don't care. If it's a girl and it...moves....it's okay by them!

FYI, ther's been a LOT of discussion on this subject on BYC; you might try searching to find some of those older threads, I recall one regarding line breeding that was quite long and had some really good, useful input by folks that have done and are doing it.

 

[77horses]

OK Thanks!

LOL! with roosters, if it moves, is a girl, and isn't dangerous, then it's perfect!

(actually, even if it IS dangerous, most roos still don't care!)

And even if it's not a girl, some roos still don't care...well at least one of our past roos didn't...traded him a while ago! LOL

 

[The Wolf Queen]

Funny japanese lol

 

[Wynette]

Quote:
Now THAT is funny; there's a word for that, but it's not appropriate to use on this family-friendly forum!

 

[Danigirl3]

Quote:
OK Thanks!

But isn't it awkward to inbreed? I mean, like the father(rooster) mating with his own children?

I don't know...it just seems strange.

I remember when we first got a hen and chicks years ago from my grandfather. I mentioned that maybe if some turned out to be roos we may get more chicks. My dh was so grossed out. His response was but their siblings! He couldn't believe that they would mate together. Like somehow they would know. I spent my summers at my grandparents farm. So it was almost common knowledge for me.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
Now THAT is funny; there's a word for that, but it's not appropriate to use on this family-friendly forum!

Yeah he was one of the more dominant roosters all right...it was good for the hens, since he protected them well, but when him and his brother shared a coop....