Will we have to get rid of the Father to prevent inbreeding?

[SproutGirl]

Hello,
We have our first broody right now, and she has a clutch of 5 eggs that are due to hatch the day after Thanksgiving. Although the babies will be mutts, (crosses between RIRs and Ameraucanas) we are excited to have them and to see what they will look like. But I have a question about genetics and inbreeding. If we decide to keep any of the hens from this clutch, does that mean that we will have to get rid of our rooster? It seems likely that if we don't, he will be mating with his daughters, which seems very wrong. How do you manage genetics and keep your birds from inbreeding? We only have a very small backyard flock, so it should be pretty easy: 1 roo, and 3 hens. Thanks in advance for your help! We are so excited for the babies!

(Edited subject line.)

 

[speckledhen]

That is not the taboo for chickens that it is for humans. It's called linebreeding to breed parent to progeny. It's supposedly better to breed father to granddaughter than to daughter, but either is okay.

 

[purr]

yup what speckled said

 

[SproutGirl]

Thanks. Just to further clarify, would mother & son breeding produce okay chicks and eggs? Also, I suppose it would be best to keep only offspring of the same gender to prevent sibling breeding; does that sound correct? Thanks again.

 

[speckledhen]

Quote:
Yes, the chicks would be okay. You dont have to breed relatives, if it bothers you. Remember you have a mother and a father, the chicks will be different gender than one of its parents, and therefore can mate that parent. If you only keep pullets, they wont breed with their brothers, but still, it's not that bad, if they are both great examples of the breed-traits are intensified when they both share them. My Dutch is the son of the late Hawkeye with Lexie. Lexie adores Dutch, is now one of his ladies and is fertile by him. Shouldn't be a problem at all. And Dutch has two half sisters in his harem, which doesn't worry me.