I am a novice to chicken breeding and was wanting to ask some more experienced breeders some questions regarding behavior and genetics. I've been doing some intensive research on the net and have found that most long standing breeds have certain stereotype behaviror quirks that is in the makeup of the breed. (I.E. bantams are good mothers, barred rock cockerels can be man aggressive, heavy breeds are less active while leghorns are flighty, etc). I've also done some minor research into the breeding history of the many varieties--although a lot information is rather vague. I do not have access to the much mentioned old breeders manuals, so I have to go by pure conjecture. I have concluded through my research that most breeds were the result of selective crosses and that most of the color varieties were more or less standard families by the 7th generation. But what of the mental makeup of the birds. The Old English Game and various Orientals are all very aggressive and if the blood lines are particulary pure, will fight to the death. There has been much mention that most of the "modern" breeds have had some infusion of oriental or old english blood injected into the base stock. So it would seem that this aggressive trait is present in today's birds. Even an old barnyard rooster will attack a strange cockerel in his yard. While other breeds seem to have been bred for gentleness, or have these behavioral traits often been overlooked in a breed in order to achieve other desired traits(color, body shape, weight, etc). Suppose that I had several families of Leghorns, and I my sole purpose in breeding was to have a docile and quiet bird. Could I carefully select the existing birds until I achieve my desired goal? I know that most people will say "Just find another breed that has the desired mental makeup", which would be much easier--but it would not answer my curiosity. Thanks for your time.

You will observe that there is more variation within a breed than between breeds. Some Old English Game Bantams are docile, while others (usually by variety) are very aggressive. This tendency is very heritible. It is something that I as a breeder constantly keep an eye on. I don't want too much of a "fear factor" in my show birds, however I have to keep enough "gaminess" going to safeguard fertility. Some of the quirks I have observed is a general aggressiveness in Black Old English, but the males can get along quite well in close quarters. Generally birds that are highly productive are also nervous and hyperactive. This year it is my project to begin breeding the fearfulness out of my Japanese Bantams. A little wariness is not undesirable for their own protection, but outright fear of their handler is not good.