Hi everyone, I have been researching breeding poultry in a closed flock for some time, and have searched the posts on here about it too. I read all about the rolling maitings, clan matings, flecth breeding charts, spiral matings ect... Then I attempted to design my own varitation taking what I consider the best from all, to create a flock of white leghorns that are simply what I call "Tripple P leghorns" ( Presentable - Look good not necessarily show birds, Practicle- Lay well enough to pay there way, and Pleasing- If I get the first two I will be pleased. I started with some show birds for 2 differnt breeders that both have the same line, and I used some commerical white leghorns to get thier laying up. Now I want to simply conserve what I have. I Asked Dr P Sponenberg from the ALBC what he thought of this plan and he thought it was a Good solution fro back yarders and I would probably need new blood every 10 years of so. So now I am asking you, who breed poultry for a second opinion, or at least your thoughts. Because as far as I know this is orignial, I am afriad to try it, incase I am wrong.
Here Goes:
Year one - one pen with 10-12 females
4 Pens with 2 males in each pen, marked clan 1, 2, 3, 4
Mate all the females to the clan males "1" mark chicks ( keep 2 best males and 5-6 best females)
Change males to Clan "2" males mark chicks, ( Keep 2 best males and 5-6 best females)
Year Two - The females hatched last year replace thier mothers
Use males Clan 3, same as above
Use males Clan 4, same as above.
To me this plan is a paterachal clan mating marking chicks by thier dads. Because the males are used as 2 year olds and the females as pullets, there is the advantage of mixing age and youth. Instead of hold over all the hens through a moult, there are only 4 males held over, keeping costs down. Because the females are used in thier first year and the males in thier second, then there are no parent/ child, sibling, or half sibling matings. I think the closest it could possibly be is uncle/ niece. Technequely one group of males can live with the hens, so There is only a need for 3 male pens. If each year the males are raised together then next years 4 males could all live together until thier turn into the breeding house.
I am not suggesting that there would be a problem with breeding them in closer realtionship, if the stock was the best of the best to begin with, but because they are a 3 line cross, I would be afraid breeding them close might hold too many suprises.
So what do you think? I am not a show person. I just want to raise my own eggs, and replacement birds, and would like to keep the flock closed to keep disease out. I know a fellow who brought in a bird, that when the person he purchased it from had some bird deaths the government killed both flocks, because of him purchasing that one bird. Don't want that to happen to me.
So do you think this plan has any merit? Do you think I can go 10 years without new blood? when I need new blood, I was told to look at the birds and see what they need. If it is looks, use a show male, if it is production, use a commercial male. Which ever I use I would cross with a few of my birds and use the 50% males on the whole flock, does that sound reasonable? Thanks for your time, I am soon going to have to just pick a program and get with it. I am also starting some silkies to hatch with.
Here Goes:
Year one - one pen with 10-12 females
4 Pens with 2 males in each pen, marked clan 1, 2, 3, 4
Mate all the females to the clan males "1" mark chicks ( keep 2 best males and 5-6 best females)
Change males to Clan "2" males mark chicks, ( Keep 2 best males and 5-6 best females)
Year Two - The females hatched last year replace thier mothers
Use males Clan 3, same as above
Use males Clan 4, same as above.
To me this plan is a paterachal clan mating marking chicks by thier dads. Because the males are used as 2 year olds and the females as pullets, there is the advantage of mixing age and youth. Instead of hold over all the hens through a moult, there are only 4 males held over, keeping costs down. Because the females are used in thier first year and the males in thier second, then there are no parent/ child, sibling, or half sibling matings. I think the closest it could possibly be is uncle/ niece. Technequely one group of males can live with the hens, so There is only a need for 3 male pens. If each year the males are raised together then next years 4 males could all live together until thier turn into the breeding house.
I am not suggesting that there would be a problem with breeding them in closer realtionship, if the stock was the best of the best to begin with, but because they are a 3 line cross, I would be afraid breeding them close might hold too many suprises.
So what do you think? I am not a show person. I just want to raise my own eggs, and replacement birds, and would like to keep the flock closed to keep disease out. I know a fellow who brought in a bird, that when the person he purchased it from had some bird deaths the government killed both flocks, because of him purchasing that one bird. Don't want that to happen to me.
So do you think this plan has any merit? Do you think I can go 10 years without new blood? when I need new blood, I was told to look at the birds and see what they need. If it is looks, use a show male, if it is production, use a commercial male. Which ever I use I would cross with a few of my birds and use the 50% males on the whole flock, does that sound reasonable? Thanks for your time, I am soon going to have to just pick a program and get with it. I am also starting some silkies to hatch with.
