Breeding for health

[Robbie]

The recent passing of my Dark Cornish rooster has got me thinking about chicken genetics and weak hearts. I wonder if it's not actually the rapid rate of growth of the cornish cross , but an ancestor that had a weak heart, that leads to flip over disease. If so, that's profound, as this flaw has effected all the offspring many generations later. It has me wondering how I can select future breeders for general all-around health and healthy organs. The only way I can think of is to only breed those chickens that have good livability. Crossing breeds would have the effect of hiding the genetic flaws so that's not really the true solution.
How old is old enough to ensure health? Do you think that if a chicken has made it to 2 years old, that's a keeper? Or should it be even older? What are your thoughts?

[ross]

That's one of the reasons that purchasing stock just Willie Nillie from different places wspecially hatcheries without knowing their programs etc is a bad thing . Get your own family/ breed going & as you say pick for the qualities that mean most to you . If your lucky enough to find a dedicated , longtime breeder not just what's the next best seller , and get to know & discuss their program & if fits yours , that's who you work with when buying new stock . I do that all the time with my pigeons for performance & shows when I showed . Also again if a bird gets sick & others don't I cull so as not to reproduce a weakness . But remember to only open your stud to a new line when you've gone as far as you can go with yours .

[Robbie]

LIKE!

[kenya]

Yes I agree with Ross, keep your own birds, breed for qualities you want, get yourself another cornish rooster but choose carefully, remember he will be half the genetics of all the chicks.

[Robbie]

Thanks Kenya and Ross- I think part of the problem was maybe not having enough roosters to choose from in the first place. Hatch, hatch hatch!!!!

[Jaye]

Well, I haven't heard that complaint very often: "... not having enough roosters".

[Cuttlefish]

You've probably seen that Joel Salatin guy that does pastured poultry on a large scale. Has some good ideas, but also makes a living off book sales and farm tours, so hard to say how successful his farm is. Anyway, his layers are in large scale tractor on open pasture (after the beef has grazed it down a bit) so there is some predation. He says he only breeds new stock from the two or three year old birds because they've proven they're fit for his scheme. I would love to wait that long! But I've only got so much space, especially winter space, so if mama has produced a better bird (type, vigor, etc) then mama's gone. : ( Hope I'm not missing too much that doesn't show up until later in life!

[TomK]

I really need to get in on this....seriously

[Ontario Chick]

You've probably seen that Joel Salatin guy that does pastured poultry on a large scale. Has some good ideas, but also makes a living off book sales and farm tours, so hard to say how successful his farm is. Anyway, his layers are in large scale tractor on open pasture (after the beef has grazed it down a bit) so there is some predation. He says he only breeds new stock from the two or three year old birds because they've proven they're fit for his scheme. I would love to wait that long! But I've only got so much space, especially winter space, so if mama has produced a better bird (type, vigor, etc) then mama's gone. : ( Hope I'm not missing too much that doesn't show up until later in life!

OK, I am going to differ on that one.
If MaMa produces a better bird, MaMa should stay around and be bred as long as she is able.
Daughter may be a better bird, but she will not necessarily produce a better progeny.
I think we all tend to make the same mistake, and assume the young bird is the better bird and rush to breed from them.
But the proven bird is the better bird.
I am now going in to F3 outcross within the same breed, using the original hens and the results are nothing short of incredible and very surprising.

[Robbie]

LIKE!