Maintaining genetic diversity in a small flock?

[Susan Skylark]

How do you maintain genetic diversity in a small flock with no easy access to outside birds (save shipped eggs)? How important is genetic diversity (not inbreeding) in coturnix quail? I hope to have 3 pens with 1 male and 4-5 hens each, all from the same batch of hatched eggs (multiple males and females in the source group but also high chance of some relationship in my birds). I was thinking raise my own females and order more eggs to raise genetically novel males? How ‘inbred’ do your quail need to get before you have fertility issues or genetic defects? Thanks!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

How ‘inbred’ do your quail need to get before you have fertility issues or genetic defects?

Usually several generations of "close" inbreeding before decline in fertility accoridng to my current understanding.

Maybe something like the clan mating system used for chickens will also work well for quail. Examples in following link..

https://www.iowabluechickenclub.com/line-breeding-via-spiral-breeding-program.html

 

[Susan Skylark]

That’s awesome, thanks!