inbreeding

[smalltownflock]

so I have 4 chickens (3 hens 1 rooster) I got them from a local breeder, I'm guessing they came from the same parents and that they are all brothers and sisters. if I get a broody hen in the spring and let her do her thing will there be any chance of a birth defect with the chicks. I'm not looking to get into breeding just thought it would be neat to see the natural cycle and get a couple chicks in the spring. not sure if incest is a thing with chickens.
Thanks

 

[featheredplanets]

I don’t see any risk with just a one time thing but if you were to then breed the offspring to relatives, you may need to cull a few... id also treat your man to a few more ladies

 

[Egghead_Jr]

There won't be a birth defect. There seems to be a lot of concern about inbreeding and in reality it takes a lot of close relation breeding pressure to result in loss of vigor and vitality. Just look at european royalty. To be an unathletic, pasty hemophiliac took centuries of inbreeding. You'll be fine mating your birds.

 

[red horse ranch]

I have read that it can take up to five generations for inbreeding to be a serious problem. I usually bring in a few new pullets each year but I've had a lot of brother/sister and father/daughter offspring over the years and have never had problems because of inbreeding.

 

[smalltownflock]

I don’t see any risk with just a one time thing but if you were to then breed the offspring to relatives, you may need to cull a few... id also treat your man to a few more ladies

okay thanks, maybe ill get a few more hens this spring

 

[i like emus]

Ya there's no problem I. Have done it before and it's fun raising baby's. And also sometimes the other chickens will peck at your hen because there in the nest to long so you may have to put her inside

 

[AmazingRachel]

Not really. Poultry are especially resistant to inbreeding. Many breeds were actually bred from brother-sister lines over many generations.
So no.

 

[lazy gardener]

Your roo will most likely loose his "knack" with the ladies before inbreeding ever becomes a problem. Start with good strong birds without obvious defect, eliminate any chicks that have defect, and you should be fine. For example: I had a hen who was a moon walker. Excellent layer. She was not allowed to play in the gene pool. Wry tail birds don't play in the gene pool. Poor layers are also culled. Mean tempered roos get invited to dinner.

 

[i like emus]

Really my brother and sister chickens breed each other all the time