Roosters & their own Chicks

[Sungrove Farmstead]

It dawned on me - I have a broody hatching chicks, from our rooster...so now he will have some of his own babies around...how does everyone handle inbreeding? Do you get rid of the rooster and get a new one from an outside flock?

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I am not an expert with breeding, but it is my understanding that inbreeding is not an issue with chickens, unless breeding for show. Health of your future flock will not be compromised.

 

[Chickassan]

No, if I don't want inbreeding I get a few new hens to hatch from or buy fertile eggs. It would be a pain to replace the rooster all the time.
I don't think chicken inbreeding is quite the monster maker you'd think either so if it happened it would be ok.

 

[crazy4ChickensNducks]

inbreeding wont matter unless you are showing the chickens. you will still end up with a fully functioning chicken with 4 toes

 

[Sungrove Farmstead]

Okay - I told my husband that I think it's not really an issue, and when I was growing up broodys were always hatching chicks and we never did anything -- but I have heard of people swapping roosters, but I am pretty fond of ours even if he is kinda of a meanie lol

 

[Sungrove Farmstead]

inbreeding wont matter unless you are showing the chickens. you will still end up with a fully functioning chicken with 4 toes

I mean, a bunch of them are faverolles so maybe their toe count would just go back to normal! Lol

 

[Keeperofmunchkins]

The chicks will grow up and if they are female, your rooster will mate with them. If they are male and you keep them, they will mate with older hens including their own mother. However the chickens do not think anything strange of this and you do not have to hatch the eggs that result from inbreeding if you don't want. As with any animal, repeated inbreeding has the potential to cause abnormalities, but it is rare to get any problem with just one generation of inbreeding.

 

[Chickassan]

Lol! You can't hurt faverolles by inbreeding they're already about as goofy as they're going to get.
I know from experience.

I mean, a bunch of them are faverolles so maybe their toe count would just go back to normal! Lol

 

[Acre4Me]

Not an expert, but seems it’s not a huge problem for a couple generations. But, more of a concern when showing chickens or keeping to breed standards. This is also why some people look for new breeding stock every few years when trying to keep a good breed standard. However, you’ll still get chickens that lay eggs just fine.

@Cyprus might have more thoughts to add.

 

[Cyprus]

There's no issue. Although when bringing in new genetics it is better to bring in a new male.

Inbreeding(linebreeding) is used in exhibition lines often.