Landrace/adaptive breeding discussion

[Karoo permaculture]

I havent seen it discussed yet, but im keen to hear your opinions on the egg song, especially for permanent free range hens. Does that not give their position away? Is it something you breed against? Or just let nature do its own thing...

 

[Sally PB]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-not-about-the-egg-it’s-an-escort-call.74386/
This puts a new light on the egg song.

 

[LaurenRitz]

I agree it's an escort call. I don't have a full blown population yet, so only two young cockerels, no secondaries.

One cockerel has only two girls (one disappeared) and the flock tends to stay pretty close to their coop. Since he's already right there, there's no need for an escort. His girls seldom do the egg song.

The other flock ranges out wider. With 9 hens he has his "hands" full. I see him alert at the egg song, run toward the sound, stop (apparently realizing that he's leaving the rest of the flock unguarded), reverse direction, and stand where he can see both until the hen either comes to him or gets more vocal and then he leaves the rest of the flock to get her.

 

[Karoo permaculture]

Ah okey nice thanks, makes sense. My big Asil rooster is at another farm making babies and I now have a very young New Hampshire cockerel in with the girls, I dont think they have a lot of confidence in him yet

 

[Vulpes vulpes]

Hi, I've been following this thread from the shadows. I'd like to hear you guys' opinions on mixing landraces. Say I liked the traits of both Penedesencas and Icelandics, so I bought a Penedesenca roo and several Icelandic hens as the founding population of my own landrace flock. The preservationists say that you should never cross Icelandics with other chickens, but I don't see how it hurts the preservation effort if I'm supporting them by buying livestock and I never plan on claiming I have pure Icelandics. It just doesn't seem like it would hurt anybody

 

[LaurenRitz]

Hi, I've been following this thread from the shadows. I'd like to hear you guys' opinions on mixing landraces. Say I liked the traits of both Penedesencas and Icelandics, so I bought a Penedesenca roo and several Icelandic hens as the founding population of my own landrace flock. The preservationists say that you should never cross Icelandics with other chickens, but I don't see how it hurts the preservation effort if I'm supporting them by buying livestock and I never plan on claiming I have pure Icelandics. It just doesn't seem like it would hurt anybody

I'd say do it. I personally have 8 different breeds mixed in. Every "breed" was once a landrace, and in my opinion by refusing the possibility of mixing in new blood you just sign the death warrant for the breed.

 

[Vulpes vulpes]

I'd say do it. I personally have 8 different breeds mixed in. Every "breed" was once a landrace, and in my opinion by refusing the possibility of mixing in new blood you just sign the death warrant for the breed.

I mainly agree, but from what I've read on Icelandic chickens, they're considered a sort of genetic "treasure" because, since Iceland is an island, they've been genetically isolated for some 1000 years or so. However, there was a huge population bottleneck in the 20th century when industrial layers were brought into the country, so despite their enormous genetic diversity, more is likely already lost to inbreeding

 

[LaurenRitz]

I mainly agree, but from what I've read on Icelandic chickens, they're considered a sort of genetic "treasure" because, since Iceland is an island, they've been genetically isolated for some 1000 years or so. However, there was a huge population bottleneck in the 20th century when industrial layers were brought into the country, so despite their enormous genetic diversity, more is likely already lost to inbreeding

Well, they can either maintain genetic purity without your help, or with it. Without your money, or with it. Most people don't intend to breed the birds they buy, which also doesn't contribute to the population, but they don't hesitate to sell birds as layers.

If you're concerned, talk to the breeder.

 

[Florida Bullfrog]

Hi, I've been following this thread from the shadows. I'd like to hear you guys' opinions on mixing landraces. Say I liked the traits of both Penedesencas and Icelandics, so I bought a Penedesenca roo and several Icelandic hens as the founding population of my own landrace flock. The preservationists say that you should never cross Icelandics with other chickens, but I don't see how it hurts the preservation effort if I'm supporting them by buying livestock and I never plan on claiming I have pure Icelandics. It just doesn't seem like it would hurt anybody

The point of a landrace for our purposes is to have superior free range chickens. So there’s no rules as far as I’m concerned. Do whatever it takes within reason to make the best chickens for your situation.

 

[LaurenRitz]

One of my cockerels got taken out, possibly by a dog. I am looking forward to someday having a beta with each flock. For now, the girls seem content with the survivor. Instead of them moving into his territory, he has moved into theirs, while his other girls stayed behind.

Courting?

I have five 8 week cockerels coming up, so we'll see what happens. Beyond that, I have a group of 8 that has at least 3 boys, so as long as they don't combine into one giant flock under the senior roo we should have plenty. Eventually.

As long as the boys are polite to me and to the girls, I'm content to let them sort it out.