Signs of "Line Breeding"?

[chickenbuddy]

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Yes, breeders do that regularly. That is how new colours are brought into a breed. Some traits are easier to work with than others.

There are a number of things that can be genetic, nutritional, incubation conditions, hatching conditions, etc. But if something is cropping up frequently and all over the place, then it is likely genetic. If one person is having frequent problems, but others with the same line of birds are not experiencing them, then it is probably something in that person's setup: feed, environment, etc. But when different people, different feed, different incubators, climates, etc...it is the genes.

How do you know when you get back to a pure breed?

 

[halo]

Is there going to be an explosion of problems with the black copper marans now? Theres obviously a genetic defect, and Im not sure if it can be absolutely traced to its beginnings. But with the monstrous interest now in marans, and so many people now buying eggs and selling eggs, could the breed end up in serious trouble?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

How do you know when you get back to a pure breed?

When the offspring again meet the standard, this usually takes several generations.​

 

[L&Schickens]

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I would say yes. But how do you know if the eggs you are going to hatch from someone has sent you "defect free" eggs? You see the beautiful color of the eggs and forget to ask the important questions. I think I will be buying Marans as already hatched birds from now on. If I do sell eggs in the future, I will make sure the eggs I am selling have chicks in them from birds as "defect free" as I can get them to be.

 

[Msbear]

I would try buying some marans for thier type and not egg color and then crossing them with your birds... cull for egg color and type ...then go from there. That may be all it takes to correct the problem.

 

[Solsken Farm]

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Halo. From my limited experience, it appears Marans will always be a work in progress. The dark egg seems to really make them a complicated bird to breed, as that has to be focused on while working on the conformation. There are many wonderful, healthy Marans right now, if one is careful who they buy from.

There are lots of people dedicated to producing healthy, quality birds. However, there are plenty that see dollar signs and are out to make a quick buck.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

I can see thinking it's genetic if the breeding birds are owned by multiple people. It sounds like several of the people that have chick problems bought their hatching eggs from an individual, that has sold to multiple people. That can be due to a nutritional deficiency, even though different people are hatching the eggs. Biotin deficiency in the breeders and their eggs can cause webbing in both chickens and parrots.

 

[Solsken Farm]

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That is really helpful to know. The more I read, the more there is to learn. Thanks WW.

 

[AHappychick]

I have a bit of a problem, 5 out of the 12 Black Copper Marans I got have webbed or severely deformed toes that are all fused together. I have seen that this has become an issue with certain lines. I obviously cant use them for breeding, now I am more concerned with whether or not the others are carrying this genetic problem and will pass it on. 5 out of 12 is a lot to be deformed. I know it is from too much inbreeding so I guess I am in search of a fresh new Black copper line that has no links Wade Jeane or any of the other big Maran breeders. Are there any out there with a good line that is fresh???

 

[klf73]

I would try someone that has a diverse flock....I know they say you can compromise egg color but I had the best hatch from Mergmets marans, and I believe the eggs I got last year were Grisham and Davis roos over Valentine hens? I am not 100% positive, would have to go look at my records....I don't know how she has her pens set up right now. I am sick of sinking so much money into the bc marans and ending up with practically nothing

. just my 2 cents....
I would rather have healthy birds and work on egg color than have great egg color and have genetic problems......
I have some La Fleche that I had to bring another line into(not sure if I mentioned it on this thread) because all of the ones I hatched from an exhibition breeder were missing toenails, he hadn't brought new blood in many years and doesn't show anymore. I am going to offer him a roo from my next set of eggs that aren't related to his....