What Breeding Style Do You Use?

[Jmurcks]

I am looking into starting a line of my own birds. I have three trios.

I have read about two different types of breeding and I was wondering what you guys did!
One is called Clan Mating and you keep different sets of birds and breed males from one set to females of another set (best I can understand).

The other is one I got from another forum where you breed like this:
"First Generation Hen Cock ½ hen ½ cock
Second Generation Hen to son Cock to daughter ¾ hen ¾ cock
Third Generation Hen to grandson Cock to granddaughter 7/8 hen 7/8 cock
Fourth Generation Hen to grandson Cock to granddaughter 15/16 hen 15/16 cock
Now in the 5th generation you breed the 15/16 hen to the 15/16 cock. Then, choosing the best hen(s) and cock(s) you begin again (Narragansett, The Gamecock, 1985, pp. 44-45)."
http://ultimatefowl.wordpress.com/2009/02/11/line-breeding/

To sum it up... what do you guys do?

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
I follow the old Gamefowl breeders way of breeding, (posted above) as i have always found it works good. Though that doesn't mean i won't make an out-cross to a new line if i believe it could improve mine or i need fresh blood.

 

[saladin]

In choosing any breeding system there are several questions you have to ask yourself first (which should help you to choose):

1. How much record keeping do you want to do?

2. Are the birds you are beginning with related? If so, how closely?

3. How many breed pens do you wish to keep?

4. How many chicks are you planning to hatch?

Of all the questions #4 is perhaps the most important. You cannot hatch 20 chicks and expect to be able to maintain a line. The birds simply will not hold up. The secret to any system is to hatch as many chicks as you can possibly raise and then apply tremendously are selective pressure beginning with HEALTH AND VIGOR. Of course, this begs the question, "how many do I hatch?" I've always heard and read that at least 20 chicks from each pair as a minimum. And from that 20 you should expect to keep no more than 2 for next years brood stock. In other words, 10% of all chicks hatched will become the next years breeders.

Any chick, and I mean ANY, that does not meet the standard for health and vigor MUST BE CULLED. Otherwise, you are just breeding in weakness into your line. saladin

 

[Pathfinders]

I either pedigree breed, or flock breed, depending. Here's my article on how to pedigree breed:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4512905_pedigree-breed-chicken.html

It's not that hard, give it a shot. All it takes is pen space and good record keeping.

 

[Jmurcks]

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I don't mind keeping as much paperwork as needed and I most certainly want to know the exact parents of every chick.
As far as relation I know that one of the pairs are possibly related to one another but not the other two pairs and the other two pairs are most likely all related to one another.
(They came from two different breeders - the one pair from one guy and the other two pairs from another guy)
As far as breeding pens I have two already with the possibility of building more. I am unsure how many I will need!
In regards to the chicks... I don't know! I wasn't sure how many possible chicks you could get from a "season" nor how many were needed.
If you were in my situation and had three pairs of fairly nice birds how would you proceed?
Thanks!

 

[Jmurcks]

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Thanks! That will come in handy for sure!

 

[Jmurcks]

Quote:
I read your online post of Spiral breeding and that was very educational! I like it best of all the laid out breeding plans I have seen so far as I like the idea of some new blood being introduced so often and using the younger male stock.
Here's my question... how would I get that started??
I have the three pairs, as listed above... would I have to start one of these plans for each pair or could I just call each of their offspring line A B and C?

 

[Pathfinders]

Quote:
I read your online post of Spiral breeding and that was very educational! I like it best of all the laid out breeding plans I have seen so far as I like the idea of some new blood being introduced so often and using the younger male stock.
Here's my question... how would I get that started??
I have the three pairs, as listed above... would I have to start one of these plans for each pair or could I just call each of their offspring line A B and C?

I would just call each of their offspring line A B and C.

 

[Bantimna]

Quote:

I'ts bookmarked

 

[Jmurcks]

Quote:
I read your online post of Spiral breeding and that was very educational! I like it best of all the laid out breeding plans I have seen so far as I like the idea of some new blood being introduced so often and using the younger male stock.
Here's my question... how would I get that started??
I have the three pairs, as listed above... would I have to start one of these plans for each pair or could I just call each of their offspring line A B and C?

I would just call each of their offspring line A B and C.

That would definately simply things! Thanks so much!