Yakkity_Sax
Hatching
- Mar 15, 2025
- 2
- 0
- 4
Hi all,
I new here, but not new to chickens. We have had a variety of breeds over the years but I wanted to begin breeding English Orpingtons in the next few years because I just love the look of the look of English Orps. (I have never actually bred chickens for anything but egg production in the past- it has taken a good decade to just learn the ropes of keeping a healthy, safe flock. So, true "breeding" is all new to me!)
I had some LOs that were not great quality, but I recently ordered some eggs from Carolina Rare Chicks and I am trying to plan for the future. I am looking for a lot of information, which I'll keep researching on my own, but wanted to ask for any info you all could provide, too.
Specifically, how much do I need to worry about introducing other lines to my Carolina Rare Chick line? Is lack of genetic diversity a real problem? I know true LOs are fairly rare and there are a lot of problems with American lines.
Second, I have always been told that you absolutely have to breed lavs back to black to help with the shredding. Maybe I just misunderstand the genetics, but I thought that just masked the problem, not necessarily fixed the genetics issue. Which is true?
Third, can anyone recommend resources in book form to really get a grasp on the genetics and the SOP for English Orpingtons? (*editing to clarify books on achieving the SOP body type.)
Thanks to anyone who is willing to answer andnI apologize if this has been asked before. I did try to search, but couldn't find the answers to this specific information.
I new here, but not new to chickens. We have had a variety of breeds over the years but I wanted to begin breeding English Orpingtons in the next few years because I just love the look of the look of English Orps. (I have never actually bred chickens for anything but egg production in the past- it has taken a good decade to just learn the ropes of keeping a healthy, safe flock. So, true "breeding" is all new to me!)
I had some LOs that were not great quality, but I recently ordered some eggs from Carolina Rare Chicks and I am trying to plan for the future. I am looking for a lot of information, which I'll keep researching on my own, but wanted to ask for any info you all could provide, too.
Specifically, how much do I need to worry about introducing other lines to my Carolina Rare Chick line? Is lack of genetic diversity a real problem? I know true LOs are fairly rare and there are a lot of problems with American lines.
Second, I have always been told that you absolutely have to breed lavs back to black to help with the shredding. Maybe I just misunderstand the genetics, but I thought that just masked the problem, not necessarily fixed the genetics issue. Which is true?
Third, can anyone recommend resources in book form to really get a grasp on the genetics and the SOP for English Orpingtons? (*editing to clarify books on achieving the SOP body type.)
Thanks to anyone who is willing to answer andnI apologize if this has been asked before. I did try to search, but couldn't find the answers to this specific information.
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