Breeding?

[Dominique King]

I have two roos I keep in my flock…
A Jersey Giant x Barred Rock and a Jersey Giant x RIR. I have Wyandottes, RIR, Jersey Giants, and Dominiques. I am getting some Buff Orpington chicks as well as some more Wyandotte chicks. I am planning on breeding with the current hens I have with my two roos to breed my own chicks. I am still living with my parents and they don’t want to follow the correct way of breeding so we always have the roos with the hens. Meaning we never separate them. We do have a mini coop for broody hens so if we do get some mamas we can put them there. Would breeding the chickens I have now produce any unhealthy offspring? I want healthy and happy chicks to have from my own flock so I want to hear from the experts. Any advice is good advice!
Btw staff, if this post is in the wrong forum, please move it to the correct one thanks!

 

[TOMTE]

I have two roos I keep in my flock…
A Jersey Giant x Barred Rock and a Jersey Giant x RIR. I have Wyandottes, RIR, Jersey Giants, and Dominiques. I am getting some Buff Orpington chicks as well as some more Wyandotte chicks. I am planning on breeding with the current hens I have with my two roos to breed my own chicks. I am still living with my parents and they don’t want to follow the correct way of breeding so we always have the roos with the hens. Meaning we never separate them. We do have a mini coop for broody hens so if we do get some mamas we can put them there. Would breeding the chickens I have now produce any unhealthy offspring? I want healthy and happy chicks to have from my own flock so I want to hear from the experts. Any advice is good advice!
Btw staff, if this post is in the wrong forum, please move it to the correct one thanks!

Mutts/backyard mixes are often the healthiest, but someone who knows chicken genetics and has experience with breeding will be able to weigh in on specifics.

 

[Dominique King]

Mutts/backyard mixes are often the healthiest, but someone who knows chicken genetics and has experience with breeding will be able to weigh in on specifics.

Like I said, “Any advice is good advice here on BYC!”

 

[Mrs. K]

I was hesitant too in the beginning. This is what I figured out.

• All breeds are going to have individual birds that are less than perfect. Genetic defects are not absent in pure breeds. Often times, as they narrow the gene pool, genetic problems show up. Mix breed birds, have a wider gene pool, and tend to have less genetic disabilities.
• Healthy chicks come from enough space, good food, and clean water. I think your chicks will be fine if given those. Mine are.
• If you are going to breed birds, you need to be able to cull birds. A lot of cockerels are going to hatch - need a plan what to do, and be able to follow that plan.
• Changing roosters is the easiest way to freshen up your gene pool. You have roosters now, but they don't live forever.

I think you will get some nice hens from this, nothing is more fun than hatching with a broody hen. Let her do it her way.

Mrs K

 

[Ridgerunner]

Would breeding the chickens I have now produce any unhealthy offspring?

Not because of breed or anything like that. I do not see any red flags in breeding those at all. No fatal genes or anything like that.