Wry tail

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Thanks bluey, I didnt see your post until I just posted that. Thanks for the percentages, it makes sense to see it like that.
Michael

 

[exop]

If you're breeding your chickens in a controlled way, one thing you can consider is keeping a chicken who expresses an undesirable, recessive trait you're concerned about.

1). You can use this hen or rooster in test matings to determine if other chickens carry the trait. If the other bird is a carrier, some (theoretically 50%) of the offspring will express the trait (the rest will be carriers). If the other bird is free of the gene, none of the offspring will express the trait (but all will be carriers).

Once you have found a breeder free of the trait, you can proceed happily knowing that their genetic material is "safe".

2). If you're doing conservation breeding, remember that it's only "gene pair ww" which is the problem (in our example). All the chicken's other genes may be ok, and could contribute some valuable genetic diversity. To "suck" the good genetic material out of your problem chicken, mate it with a non-carrier, and then mate the children either with A. one another or with B. a non-carrier. 50% of the grandchildren from A, and 25% of the grandchildren from B, will be free of the problem. You can test by breeding back to the grandparent...

Yes, this approach will use up a lot of elapsed time (as birds grow to breeding age) and generate a lot of chicks, but it gives you a degree of certainty that you are breeding the trait out and not just breeding around it.

I have a couple of young Crevecours, both of whom are starting to show evidence of either wry tail or some kind of swelling of the oil gland causing them to tilt their tails voluntarily.

If it's wry tail, I think I've resigned myself to keeping them around and trying to breed from them anyway, as the breed's in such trouble.

Best - exop

 

[jbsouth]

Quote:
I know this is an old thread, but this was going to be my sentiments exactly. Wry tail, as far as I know, is of undetermined genetic origin, however, it is probably a recessive trait. It would be a great idea to hang on to one of your wry tailed offspring to use as a breeder test. This would be a very helpful tool in eliminating the trait from your flock. Since there is no genetic inheritance established a male and a female would be fit for determining whether there was any sex-liked inheritance as well (you may be able to eliminate this idea initially based on previous matings, but what the heck give it a look)

 

[Quack and Cheep]

Hi there

You may be able to help me, I have a point of lay cayuga duck with wry tail, will she have problems laying do you know?

Our drake is treading her, that's why the wings are looking ruffled, they are not deformed at all.

I don't want her to suffer and will put her to sleep if there is any risk to her health from this condition. But I have a pet home lined up for her if it is not something that will cause her problems laying.

I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks a mill.

 

[clankeyes]

One of my Wheaten Marans is a wry tail . She hatched on July 5th and was the runt of the clutch. She is very active and sweet and eats normally and has free range during the day with the rest of the flock. I will not be using her in my breeding program. I have 2 cockerels that came from the same breeder and another cockerel from another breeder. BUT not worth the time or effort to experiment. Does anyone know if this affects their vent and egg production ?