Trade-off in fertility for show quality?

[cgmccary]

The beautiful trio of Golden Penciled Hamburgs (only 2 hens hatched in the dozen eggs I ordered) hardly lays eggs and didn't even start until they were 8 months old!

I like my pullets to NOT start laying early because their bodies develop better and they tend to have healthier, longer laying lives. Sometimes, I have hatched in late May so laying will be delayed until about 8-9 months old. Then the pullet gets her full body size & weight by that time and she lays well into the next winter thereafter & her eggs are larger. For instance, my hens hatched in May, 2008 are still laying well here in November. They started laying in January & February, 2009. My breed is Buckeyes and not a layer like the Mediterraneans.

It is interesting that breeding for the SOP can lead to infertility.

Krys: It is not breeding to the standards per se which causes the infertility.

Fertility & number of eggs laid are not the same thing.​

I agree with Krys here. I have never found that breeding to SOP caused infertility. I also agree that fertility and number of eggs are two different traits and are mutually exclusive.

Ryu: Vigor must be the first characteristic selected for, always.

Yes, I agree, vigor is the most important.​

 

[call ducks]

If you or the breeder is haveing fertility is is most likely cased by the rosecomb, Rosecombs have been liked to low fertility rate's

 

[itallstartedwithhamburgs]

That's interesting. I wonder what the combs look like on the hatchery versions.

 

[wilds of pa]

Is it young age or climate.. right now most birds are in a decline unless artificial light is brought in. you wont have fertility issues with out eggs to test..

 

[Krys109uk]

If you or the breeder is haveing fertility is is most likely cased by the rosecomb, Rosecombs have been liked to low fertility rate's

The pleiotropic effects of homozygous rose reduced sperm life, reduced motility of the sperm after storage & reduced frequency of mating.

If the breeding group is small, i.e trios, quartets & the eggs are set in a timely manner, the pleiotropic effects of homozygous rose comb are not noticeable.​