Can someone tell me some of the pitfalls to avoid please.
Blackstar, As long as fertility and vigor do not diminish, and you are willing to cull any birds with severe problems (I have never had any), chickens can inbreed for a number of generations. With a color that was difficult to establish, I inbred brotherxsister, brotherxsister,brotherxsister and got what I wanted, then did a linebreeding in the 4th generation. One pullet in the 2nd generation never layed, but her full sister did and carried on. This may or may not have been due to inbreeding. I have a different line that also have been bred brotherxsister. I have 2 pullets that have been laying for 2 months, starting at 5 months, kind and gentle, lovely birds--real keepers. And I have their 2 brothers that are gorgeous cockerels, and wild as March hares! Have to catch them in flight (I think they know this as they fly straight up and I grab their legs) and then they are perfectly docile and quiet. I have not used them for hatching yet, but they are with 3 larger hens and may just let one of those hens hatch a couple of crossbred chicks. I have purebred hens I will use with these beautiful cockerels later. So don't be afraid to hatch eggs from your young cock and his 1/2 sisters, but later, to establish a second "line", you might keep a cockerel from the unrelated hen to use back with the 1/2 sisters and their chicks, if you get a nice one--then you are set for a number of years more. Hatch eggs from your best layers with nice temperment. Bringing in new stock always carries the risk of bringing in disease, or they might "meld" well. Keeping the best of your own breeding will just make them better and better--that is how Champions are bred! CJR
Thank you CJR
the situation is we have the son of a very good cock and his 1/2 sisters also a couple of hens that are not as nice but unrelated. The 1/2 sisters are from unrelated hens. The original cock has died and we would like to try to retain as much of his qualities as possible in our show flock. Any sage wisdom would be appreciatted. New quality stock is very hard for us to come by due to availability and shipping costs.
By Cjeanr on Saturday, May 22, 1999 - 12:10 am:
By Blackstar on Sunday, May 30, 1999 - 05:30 am:
I very much appreciate the time you took to answer my question so thoughtfully.
Blackstar