free rangin'

The latest reading I’ve been doing is about keeping chickens and a breeding program that will ensure genetic diversity. For the small farm flock, this can be a real challenge. You can’t just let your hens lay fertilized eggs, hatch them out and carry on for years that way. If you think about it, after the first year hens are having babies that are also their brothers and sisters. The old Royals know from experience that this can lead to some unpleasant traits.  So, then, how do you make sure that your birds have sound genetic background and continue to improve the flock you have year after year?

Well, there are several acceptable ways to go about this. One way is to make sure that you always have a rooster from outside the farm. Borrow a different one for each new hatching season. Trade roosters with neighbouring farms, if you know your neighbours flock and trust their breeding techniques, or buy a new one from a hatchery every season which will help with the strength of genetic diversity as hatcheries tend to be very careful in this area.

I read one way was to divide your flock into two groups. One group never breeds within their own group. Breed only one group per season. Roosters from group one breed with hens from group two, then the next season roosters from group two breed with hens from group one. This will still result in some inbreeding but it is apparently considered an acceptable amount. I would imagine that years down the road it becomes a non issue and if you had received your starter chicks from a hatchery, the chances of any of them being related to each other from the get-go is relatively small.

Another method is to divide your flock into three groups which will diversify even further. Roosters from group one breed the first season with hens from group two and from then on group one only breeds with group two. Roosters from group two breed with hens from group three – from then on, as well. Roosters from group three only breed with hens from group one. This method eliminates the need to find unrelated roosters, so if you live in a remote location or would like to try your hand at improving your own flock without outside influences, this might be the method for you. I see this method as the most practical for our farm simply because we will be trying to be self sustainable. The less we have to go off the farm for anything, the more efficient our operation will be.

There are other methods of breeding poultry that I haven’t covered here. For in depth information you can check out the websites listed below or contact your government agricultural representative for advice.

http://www.world-agriculture.com/poultry/poultry-breeding.php

http://www.raising-chickens.org/chicken-breeding-methods.html