Low production and fertility are the result of inbreeding depression. To achieve consistency in a line you have to be able to control the genetics and the quickest way to do that is to close the flock. Every breed that has ever been created used line breeding to some degree. Yes, it results in low fertility after a few generations. Outcross undoes most of the progress achieve in a line though so with standard bred chickens it is always balance between inbreeding for desired traits and outbreeding for the health of the line.
Exhibitors with lines that are consistently placing very well in shows don't want to out breed because it could ruin their line resulting in them never winning anything again.
There are dozens of breeding plans out there that all address the inbreeding and out breeding differently. In the end they all require outbreeding. The longer they can inbreed the higher uniformity can be achieved. That is why vigor is always the first thing that it considered when fitting and mating standard bred chickens. Poor breed line could run into fertility problems in 2-3 generations. Well bred lines might go more like 6-7 generations before running into fertility problems if at all.
The same goes for hardiness. Poorly bred lines could have problems with hardiness in a few generations while well breed line are going to go a lot longer. When you see a really good-looking bird who gets sick it is really tempting to keep it back for breeding anyways. It is much harder to cull the bird, but the advise that is always given is to never breed any bird that has ever been sick. Also they say to always use birds that are at least 2 years old for breeders. If the Fav line is done at 1-1/2 to 2 years old you know that isn't happenings. Putting a couple of hens with cockerel doesn't make someone a breeder. A breeder is someone who knows what they are doing. I was told that it takes about 10 years to start to get a handle on things and that you can't learn it on your own. You need a mentor. So...there are a lot of novices producing chickens who are not breeders. There is nothing wrong with being a novice. With a good mentor you can make progress, but our generation of poultry enthusiast is not the same as the generation that lived before 1950. We outsource a lot of the work that they had to do themself, and it has removed us from the knowledge of a lot of the details that go into breeding poultry.
Crossing lines creates hybrid vigor. That is why production birds are all from cross line matings and cross breed hybrids. Your line bred legbars may only lay 165 eggs year, but cross them with another line bred breed that lays 180 eggs a year and if they nick well you may get offspring that are laying 250 eggs a year. The hybird vigor only works the first cross so breeding the 250 egg hybrid with another 250 egg hybrid and you may only get 170 eggs.
Breeds that are well bred for the correct body structure, etc. are very important. They are used to produce production birds.
Chest depth is not something that is easy to improve. There is the nature factor and there is the nurture factor. Some have been successful in getting fuller birds through aggressive worming programs and special feed. Nurture is the easier thing. The nature method usually involves borrowing genetics from other breeds with an out cross then breeding back to the standard. You have to be careful what you cross to though. You always get more than just the thing you are trying in improve from an out cross. Working within the breed you get "like for like". If you keep breeding the birds with the best depth you will see more consistency at getting birds with that depth. To increase the depth however is something that poultry genetic companies have to go through thousands of birds to improve.
No, I don't know anything about the breed club. I was on the board from 2012-2014 as the club president. When my term was up, Michael Baker was made club President. Since them Tony Markly, Elissa Teel-Duggan, and Sara Merranko served as presidents. I was asked to service as an interim region director for a year to complete Kathy Kinsel's term when she left the club. I also assist Kimberly Cook when she was the Editor of the club newsletter to help identify topics for articles and club members to write on said topics. I haven't had any involvement with the club since about 2019. I think the Board decided to stop holding meeting during covid and that since then everyone on the last sitting board has moved on to other things. It is pretty clear that someone currently involved with the breed needs to call a meeting and post it on all Legbar groups to hold officer elections. Anyone who wants to be a part of the club would be able to elect new officers. No current membership required. Getting the treasury, SOP, Breed History, Website, Facebook page, APA contacts, etc. turned over after there are elected officers for them to go to would be pretty simple.
I have never work with Opal Legbars. I was told there is an Opal Breeders group somewhere (FaceBook? Other?). I would looking for an Opal Legbar Group.
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* Does anyone here happen to have them and would be willing to email them to me?
I honestly don't know. Anyone care to weigh in?
