Inbreeding?

[Puck-Puck]

Hi, I *think* this is a Flock Management topic.

I did do a thread search, and though I didn't see this particular question, I'm guessing it doesn't pose as much of a problem among chickenkind as it does among humankind: if one got a straight run of 25 chickens, about 12 male and 12 female and kept one roo for a next generation, how soon before inbreeding would become a problem? Should one get rid of the original rooster when the new ones reach maturity? Even then, they're related. Unless the roosters are segregated, I foresee mating between parents and children and between siblings. Is this a big deal among chickens? Does it harm the flock?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Uppity Peon]

Breeders routinely do a certain amount of in-breeding. If you want to mix 2 breeds and keep the desirable traits of both breeds in the offspring, you can select the offspring that show both desirable traits and "breed them back" to the parents in order to lock that parent's gene into a high percentage of the next generation.

It is done for specific reasons with clearly defined goals.

 

[WalkingWolf]

It is common and how new breeds or variations are derived. If when inbreeding results in deformities or bad traits it is time to change the roo. I have heard that a lot of breeders bring in a new roo once a year. At a year the old roo is still stewable, and that adds new blood to the lines.

 

[Puck-Puck]

Thank you. I only have a backyard flock for (mostly) egg purposes, but when this batch of pullets-only retires, I was thinking to replace them with straight-run to try perpetuating the flock from within for at least a couple of years, rather than buy new birds from the hatchery all the time. My main concern is how long one can do this safely.

 

[NYREDS]

I have bred a strain of Rhode Island Red Bantams for 20 +/- years. In that time I have added no "new blood" instead choosing to line breed. My hens lay very well & my fertility & hatchability continues to be very good.
I show a few times each year & generally do well. I've only shown once so far this year. Entered a cock & a hen in a class of about 35 Red Bantams. Had Best of Breed on the cock & Reserve Best of Breed on the hen. Can't see any reason not to continue to breed the way I have been.
I would never make this claim myself but on several occasions others have told me they thought I have the best Reds in the country.

 

[patandchickens]

It depends so totally on exactly what stock you start with (and how hard you cull, adn for what) that I don't think a general prescription can be made.

As WalkingWolf says, keep going until/unless you see problems with hatchability or defects; if/when that happens, it's a good time to start using a new rooster. If you are selecting for some particular trait(s), you want a roo from the same lines as your old one was (from another 'parallel' pen, if you keep multiple pens; otherwise from the same original breeder). If you are not actually trying to achieve anything in particular, just letting procreation take its course, a totally unrelated roo is fine and perhaps preferable.

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[Puck-Puck]

Thank you! I'll try my luck and see what happens.