making a new breed of chicken. Any advice?

[Farm boy 14]

I am making a new breed in the spring. these two are a silkie and black australorp mix. The cockrel is about 6lbs and the pullet is about 3 1/2lbs -4lbs. they are about 7 months old. the tempermant from 1-10 is a 4 on both of them. they have some feathers on their feet but not much. the pullet has five toes on both feet but the cockrel has 5 toes on one foot and 4 on the other. should I breed these two together or breed the silkie and australorp together. any advice is welcome.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is your goal? IMHO you have lots of genetic variables that may take a very long time to arrive at something that is sustainable and repeatable. Especially starting with 3 birds. It takes lots of birds, lots of hatching, lots of culling over many years to achieve what one would call a 'new breed'.

 

[Farm boy 14]

My goal is to make a breed that lays a good amount of eggs but can go broody. What do you mean with IMHO?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

In My Humble Opinion.

 

[CapricornFarm]

There are already lots of breeds that lay well and can be broody. You need to have a goal in mind for appearance. Read up on Standards of Perfection in breeds you admire.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I agree. I was going to mention that out of the hundreds of breeds available, there are dozens that already fit that description.
http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf
http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKChickensA-C.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKChickensD-O.html
http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/BRKChickensP-Z.html

 

[Farm boy 14]

thanks

 

[Happy Henny]

thanks

very pretty birds

 

[varidgerunner]

Making a new breed in the spring? So we are to assume that you have already spent quite some time breeding generations of birds after the initial cross to fix traits? Otherwise what you are making would be considered mutts and not a breed.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Correct. It is called a barnyard mix.
Making a repeatable breed takes many years.