The Wyandotte Thread

[Makomd]

Like much of the "information" available here the science is-"I heard it somewhere" [usually here in a prior post. I've bred several different rose combed breeds over the years & never noticed any fertility problems. Obviously I know a lpt of other breeders & don't know of anyone who crosses single combed birds into their rose comb matings.

this is what I have heard.

 

[TShelton54]

You usually don't have to cross single comb in, its already there. It is only needed in the males any way. Nothing wrong with it , you just can't show them. If you have a single comb show up with almost perfect markings would you cull it or use it to perfect your Rose combed birds? If a single comb pullet shows up do you sell her or throw her in the layer pen? If you knew how many top breeders use an occasional single comb bird in the breeder pens you would probably be shocked. I would not hesitate to use a single combed bird if she or he could improve type or markings. Besides as long as the bird I am mating to has a good well balanced and proportioned rose comb all chicks will be Rose combed and you can't tell the difference by looking.

 

[delisha]

This is just my opinion and something for new people to think about..
I have read all about the correlation between combs and fertility..here is a conclusion from one study and a few Cites. There are tons of them on the web..
Buckland, R.B.; Hawes, R.O. 1968. "Comb type and reproduction in the male fowl: semen characteristics and testes structure." Poultry Science. 47(2): 704-710.

Crawford, R.D.; Smyth, Jr., J.R. 1963. "The influence of come genotype on mating behavior in the domestic fowl." Poultry Science. 42(2): 115-122.

Crawford, R.D.; Smyth, Jr., J.R. 1964a. "Studies of the relationship between fertility and the gene for rose comb in the domestic fowl. 1. The relationship between comb genotype and fertility." Poultry Science. 43(2): 1009-1017.

Crawford, R.D.; Smyth, Jr., J.R. 1964b. "Studies of the relationship between fertility and the gene for rose comb in the domestic fowl. 2. The relationship between comb genotype and duration of fertility." Poultry Science. 43(2): 1018-1026.

Hutt, F.B. 1940. "A relation between breed characteristics and poor reproduction in White Wyandotte fowls." American Naturalist. 74: 148-156.

Kirby, J.D.; Engel, Jr., H.N.; Froman, D.P. 1994. "Analysis of subfertility associated with homozygosity of the rose comb allele in the male domestic fowl." Poultry Science. 73(5-8): 871-878.

Kirby, J.D.; Froman, D.P.; Engel, Jr., H.N. 1993. "Analysis of subfertility associated with homozygosity of the rose comb allele in the male domestic fowl." Poultry Science. 72(suppl. 1): 106.

McLean, D.J.; Froman, D.P. 1996. "Investigation of metabolic activity of sperm from subfertile roosters homozygous for the rose comb allele (R/R)." Poultry Science. 75(9-12). suppl. 1: 76.

Petitjean, M.J.; Cochez, L.P. 1966. "Subfertility of cocks homozygous for the "R" gene (rose comb)." XIIIth World's Poultry Congress. 121-127.

Siegel, P.B.; Dudley, D.S. 1963. "Comb type, behavior and body weight in chickens." Poultry Science. 42(2): 516-522.

CONCLUSION

The studies done on comb type and its influence on behavior and fertility have shown that the comb genotype does indeed have an impact. Particularly in rose comb breeds, the gene for heterozygous rose comb is linked with poor reproductive ability. There are several factors that appear to contribute to this. RR males are less successful at courting females. They have a higher percentage of sterile matings, and have a much shorter duration of fertility. No difference was found in the fertility of RR females. From recent studies it appears that the biggest problem may be with sperm metabolism and motility, although the exact cause for low fertility in rose comb breeds has yet to be determined for certain.

Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion..some of the stuff said in the last few pages is a bit scary to hear from me personally. I would never purchase birds from a rose comb line that has single comb introduced on purpose to improve fertility. Culling for production is part of raising chickens. Adding single comb to rose comb to increase infertility will add additional fertility problems. All comb types have there own unique fertility problems.

 

[DMRippy]

I have NEVER heard of fertility problems in Rose combs EXCEPT in the SLW. I don't have issues in my BLRW EVER or my SPW bantams. I know someone that breed Dominiquers and she has NO issues. I don't hear about the issue in other breeds with rose combs like RC RIR or anything else.

I am not going to read all those studies..... BUT if they used the same SLW I have they would have issues too.

I am with NYREDS on this.... It is just strain specific in my case.... I am trying to get AWAY from that strain.... I want some CHICKS!

 

[WyandotteTX]

If I had a dollar for everytime this debate has come up here on BYC...................
Fertility has to do with so many factors in Wyandottes. Biggest is of course condition of male, exposure to cold temperatures and/or damage to comb or wattles, age of male bird(cocks take longer to come into fertility after the age of 1). Their genetic predisposition to be "infertile" is great for a genetic researcher to look at but for most backyard breeders the above mentioned issues are of much greater importance. In my humble opinion, as someone who has raised Wyandottes for a few decades now.
I have hatched many single combed birds along the way with trying to improve certain varieties and never kept one single bird to use in the future because if it has a single comb it ISNT a Wyandotte. In my experience any Single combed bird utilized will just perpetuate crow heads(that is narrow skulls and long beaks).

 

[WyandotteTX]

For you Silver Penciled Wyandotte bantam breeders, you are getting a lot of single combs from your rose comb matings because it is not too far in the past where SP Rocks were used against Partridge Bantams to reproduce quality SPW. Keep breeding from the Rose combs each year and it will go away fairly soon. We hatched well over 150 this year and had many single combed birds hatch but they all found a new residence

 

[DMRippy]

For you Silver Penciled Wyandotte bantam breeders, you are getting a lot of single combs from your rose comb matings because it is not too far in the past where SP Rocks were used against Partridge Bantams to reproduce quality SPW. Keep breeding from the Rose combs each year and it will go away fairly soon. We hatched well over 150 this year and had many single combed birds hatch but they all found a new residence

I am breeding against the single combs for sure and the really red pullets. I am getting more silvers now. I am thinking my Roo is SILVER and I am just dealing with it now in the pullets. Maybe one more year and it will get cleared up .... mostly.

 

[NanaKat]

I will never breed a single comb Wyandotte. The three hatched out of 100s of chicks over the past three years got an invitation to dinner.

 

[Countrypunk92]

Bet they didnt stay for dessert, did they? Lol

 

[delisha]

Bet they didnt stay for dessert, did they? Lol