Ranking Faults

[onthespot]

I am new to chicken breeding, and as my pullets approach egg laying age, I was wondering if more experienced breeders, those with three or more years under their belts, for example, would mind sharing which faults they found hardest to breed out of their lines. I know there is no such thing as a perfect bird, and as much as I love mine, and I have three breeds, I have noticed several faults scattered amongst the twenty odd birds and was wondering which were the worst, the ones counted against most heavily in shows, as well as the hardest to breed out of a line. Here is a starter list of some faults I wonder about.

Asymetric comb
wrong number of toes
too small or too big
wrong comb color
wrong comb shape for breed
squirrel tail
brown hackle feathers on a (supposedly all black) bird
excess white on plumage
vulture hocks on a cochin
eye color too light or too dark
temperament, too flighty or agressive roosters and/or hens
wrong feather color pattern, (too much or too little brown, white, or black where it is supposed to be)
purple barring or sheen on feathers that are supposed to be beetle green
too much sheen on hens that are not supposed to be shiny
curled toes
split wing or tendencies that way

well, i'm sure there are more faults in my birds, but surely that is enogh to get the ball rolling. Any of you have experience with these faults, sucesses breeding them out, hair pulling frustration generation after generation... would love to hear a friendly open discussion on faults.

 

[tiki244]

well I am not real experienced but I will try to answer some things I would not want,,,,,,

1 squirrel tail
2 wrong number of toes
3 split wing
4 purple sheen on black birds
5 misshapen combs(depends on severity)
6 I have zero tolerance of aggressive/flighty birds (personally)

Some things I might find acceptable,,,,

If you are talking vulture hocks on Mille Fleur Cochins then that may just be inherent with that variety and something you will have to work on. It would depend if you could get a good mate to counter balance this.

I have never heard of too much sheen on hens

Color patterns can be worked on. It also depends on the age of the bird in some cases: such as a Mille Fleur d'Uccle female could be in excellent show colors at one or two years of age and later on in life be way too white as her spots would grow bigger with age.

brown hackle feathers on a black bird (maybe) If it was a good bird and had a good mate.

curled toes and purple barring may be environmentally caused

eye color

too big too small

 

[tiki244]

Gee I was hoping that someone else would have replied to this by now! I am interested to hear what people have to say! Huh

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
I thought you answered it quite well. I agree with your answers........

 

[tiki244]

o

 

[blackred]

I will give you my opinion, although you may not like it.

First off I would like to commend you on being able to recognize the faults in your birds and wanting to correct them. If you are going to show them then it is a must to educate yourself on your birds. I assume you have a Standard of Perfection, either APA or ABA.

Every thing you have listed is either a disqualification or a serious defect and will never leave your flock if you breed with it in your breeders. It would be better to have an average bird without these faults and try to work on better type or color than to hope for catching lightning in a bottle.

One of the hardest things to convince people new to showing poultry is to start with good quality stock. Go to a show and try to find someone help you find some good breeders. In the early fall is the best time.
Good luck
Bob

 

[Guitartists]

What is squirrel tail?

 

[tiki244]

Quote:
You know how the japanese's tail goes over his back? That is a squirrel tail.

 

[tiki244]

I like your advice blackred BOB

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi!
Wry tail.
One breed I wanted had all wry tails.
Beautiful birds, but all the roos had tails that wanted to lean to one side or the other --- never quite right.

Lisa