HomesteadNowhere
Songster
I have just finished reading the thread up to here. Very interesting and useful information! Many thanks to @duluthralphie et all! I think this will help me alot in my own cross breeding venture.
I understand there has been several recurring issues crop up with the health of the toad line. Primarily from the extreme gain genetics of the Cx. Not to be critical of trying anyways, my goals are very similar but starting with freedom rangers and mixed lots of heavy breeds chicks. I may well have much the same health challenges with mine.
My questions for those who've had/tried some of the toads or Cx crosses...
Would it be better for the gene pool and longevity to have several groups of Cx hens with different roosters? Roosters who are of a good size and traits to compliment, maybe even different breeds. Once the Cx hens eggs are laying normally you collect and hatch out as many as possible, assuming the first year will be their only.
The offspring become line A, B, etc. These could be spiral/clan mated. Obviously this assumes having the multiple pens etc and things going ideal.
Would it be better to start with 50/50 and 75/25 (only 25% Cx) crosses to help mix up the genetics enough to get them to live longer and be more fertile? Sure you'll initially lose some size. But if you can get better health overall then you'd buy time to work on all the kinks and get more chicks from them.
It seemed like everyone had losses last year. Is anyone still working on the toads?
I understand there has been several recurring issues crop up with the health of the toad line. Primarily from the extreme gain genetics of the Cx. Not to be critical of trying anyways, my goals are very similar but starting with freedom rangers and mixed lots of heavy breeds chicks. I may well have much the same health challenges with mine.
My questions for those who've had/tried some of the toads or Cx crosses...
Would it be better for the gene pool and longevity to have several groups of Cx hens with different roosters? Roosters who are of a good size and traits to compliment, maybe even different breeds. Once the Cx hens eggs are laying normally you collect and hatch out as many as possible, assuming the first year will be their only.
The offspring become line A, B, etc. These could be spiral/clan mated. Obviously this assumes having the multiple pens etc and things going ideal.
Would it be better to start with 50/50 and 75/25 (only 25% Cx) crosses to help mix up the genetics enough to get them to live longer and be more fertile? Sure you'll initially lose some size. But if you can get better health overall then you'd buy time to work on all the kinks and get more chicks from them.
It seemed like everyone had losses last year. Is anyone still working on the toads?