Breeding the home flock

[DrakeMaiden]

I wasn't sure where to put this, so I'm just going to put it in other poultry for now, merely because I don't raise chickens.

What sort of rules are there when you decide who gets to mate with who, so as to avoid in-breeding? I have heard that you can breed daughter to father, but are there any other guidelines? What about breeding half-siblings that share a father?

 

[alex]

i think it goes like this...

Father-doughter
Mother-son and so on...and off course non related chickens...

 

[silkiechicken]

You can do line breeding, but I personally would avoid any lateral breeding with any siblings. Some do it and chances are you won't see a problem till a few generations down. I like to get an unrelated rooster and use him as the main man for all the rooster work.

Genetic diversity will give you the most viable offspring.

 

[ksacres]

breeding siblings is usually only used when developing a new variety to cement in the things that you need, or bring out the elusive double recessive...

 

[snugglepup]

Well, you should definitely avoid Father-Son breedings.

 

[hsm5grls]

Well, you should definitely avoid Father-Son breedings

 

[mdbucks]

Quote:
OUCH

 

[DuckLady]

Quote:
Very true if you want babies. Otherwise, they don't care who they mate.

 

[GloriaH]

This breeding was used by Cockers through the years and produces near perfect birds.
1- Hen to Cock
2- Hen to son ... Cock to daughter
3- Hen to grandson... Cock to granddaughter
4- Hen to G-granson... Cock to G-granddaughter

Now in the fifth generation you breed a 15/16 hen to a 15/16 cock. Then, choosing the best Hens and Cocks you start all over again or choosing 3 to 5 of the best Hens you can begin the clan mating system.