How to make your own breed?

[rascal66]

Is there anything on how to make your own breed of chickens?

Like, say I wanted to focus on feather traits, feather coloring, and good eggs laying capabilities. How would one even narrow it down? I also would like to think it would be a very lengthy process.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Is there anything on how to make your own breed of chickens?

Like, say I wanted to focus on feather traits, feather coloring, and good eggs laying capabilities. How would one even narrow it down? I also would like to think it would be a very lengthy process.

Seems like it would be easier to try to perfect a breed that is already in existence. I agree creating your own breed would just be too lengthy of a process.

 

[rascal66]

This may sound silly but this is what I want to do, and I know it will come with many challenges- but I want to make Blue laced red/gold easter eggers! Potentially with feathered feet... While still laying blue eggs.

I know an Easter egger is a mutt, but I know it can start with an Ameracauna.... So that idea probably sounds wild but I would like to try, or at least focus on getting and breeding blue EEs. (Im well aware that breeding blue can still result in black and splash).

I'm just crazy about Blue Easter eggers with red/bronze/gold coloring added into them. They are just so gorgeous and I rarely see them. The ones i do see are just so beautiful... But I'm still so new to genetics and all..... Can't help it!

 

[Banditschickens]

 

[rascal66]

Seems like it would be easier to try to perfect a breed that is already in existence. I agree creating your own breed would just be too lengthy of a process.

I'm just... Really thinking about trying still, because while I'm only after mostly color, I'd like to think that in just maybe 3 or 4 generations I could make what I'm thinking of, bit I also simply don't understand feather patterns and genetics well enough to really know. ((

 

[cubalaya]

So many breeds with few breeders. I would improve an established breed instead of breeding mutts that would never be recognized

 

[ShrekDawg]

So many breeds with few breeders. I would improve an established breed instead of breeding mutts that would never be recognized

I don’t think they’re necessarily after recognition though, they just want to breed a cool/unique color, so I don’t think they necessarily have to breed a purebred breed. Though I am sure there are cool colors in those breeds too. But plenty of people breed project chickens. Not like dogs where I would absolutely say not to purposely breed mutts (unless it was for a very specific purpose like a working dog) or even just poorly bred purebreds, but chickens I think are different but idk. Although that said there are already blue laced red breeds. They could breed a blue laced red Wyandotte. That would be similar. Although they lay brown eggs. But I wonder if BLRW could be bred back to an Ameracauna. That might eventually produce the desired results. Maybe with a Blue Am. Or just start with the Ams and Wyandotte’s separate and work on perfecting them separately before breeding them. @rascal66

 

[Willowspirit]

I'm just... Really thinking about trying still, because while I'm only after mostly color, I'd like to think that in just maybe 3 or 4 generations I could make what I'm thinking of, bit I also simply don't understand feather patterns and genetics well enough to really know. ((

Creating a breed isn't just about having offspring look like what you want, those offspring have to breed true also. So you create your E@ster egger and all of the subsequent birds must resemble the original bird. You also need to avoid lethal genes as well as those that produce abnormalities.

 

[ShrekDawg]

You could possibly start with purebred Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and purebred Ameracaunas and work on perfecting those separately and then eventually breed them together once you start getting quality parents/desired traits in the purebreds. I wouldn’t use an Easter Egger as breeder, you have no way of knowing what you will end up with since they are all so varied and have a lot of hidden genes. Plus they don’t always lay blue eggs. They could lay green or olive or even brown or pink. So if you want to guarantee the blue you need purebred Amercaunas. But even then, when bred to a brown egg layer it will produce a green layer so you will need to breed back to the Ameracaunas until you get the blue eggs. Or you could perfect feather color first and then breed back for the blue eggs. But I would start with maybe BBS Ameracaunas and BLRWs.

 

[Gray Farms]

It is a decades long process. If your committed then more power to you. First you have to know what traits you want to end up with. Which it seems you have most of them figured out. Use only pure breed parent stock. Also I wouldn't recommend using hatchery stock. They could easily have undesirable traits either showing or hidden.

So far you have...
* Blue Laced Red/Black Laced Gold Feather Pattern
* Feathered Legs
* Blue Eggs

You also need...
* Leg/Skin Color
* Comb Type
* Body Shape
* Body Size
* Crested Or Non-Crested
* Number Of Toes 4 or 5
* Bearded Or Non-Bearded

To make a true breed, they have to breed true. Meaning generation after generation they have to look the same. No variation in any traits.

To get the blue egg genes you'll have to use Araucanas, Ameraucanas, or Cream Legbars. To get the laced pattern and feather legs I would recommend Gold Laced Cochins.