Inbreeding?

[eclipchic]

How big of a deal is inbreeding with chickens? I have 17 hens, 5 are related to each other by their sire. Those hens plus the others have produced 5 pullets and 2 roosters....all by our flock rooster. So a few of those chicks have a common grandfather and father. One of the roosters from that hatch is really cool looking.....kind of a barred wyandotte look with a white saddleback.

Anyhow I'd like to keep him and send the current rooster to freezer camp, my only concern is possible inbreeding problems. Any thoughts?

(sorry about the gigantic image)

[eclipchic]

Our current rooster is a full white wyandotte, most of his chicks are all white. I'm hoping this guy might throw barred patterns

[Cyngbaeld]

Not an issue if you will cull very hard for any and every defect, especially for any immune system problems. That means, if a chicken is sick at all for any reason, you cull it, you do not breed it.

[RonPaulRooster]

Are you sure that one is a Cockeral ?

Just put a Barred Rock Rooster over them and all your chicks will be Barred .

[pancho]

In breeding is not as serious a problem with poultry as it is in many other animals.
Continous inbreeding is to be avoided in the family flock but usually does not happen.

[jwal10]

Yep, my buffs are an old strain, more heavy bodied than modern ones. My Grandmother had these 70 years ago. I cull heavy and bring in a new rooster every so often, even though he is related some where along the line. A lot of them all over this county in the last 40 years....James

[eclipchic]

Originally Posted by RonPaulRooster

Are you sure that one is a Cockeral ?

Just put a Barred Rock Rooster over them and all your chicks will be Barred .

Well, I think so. I could be wrong, I wouldn't mind it if it is a pullet. Solves my problem of I really don't want to eat such a neat looking bird

[Fred's Hens]

Father over daughter is line breeding. It is preferred actually. Brother to sister is unwanted.

It takes many, many generations for chickens to be considered "in bred". They have lots of genetic potential within them. Changing out the Rooster every 4 to 5 years is plenty good bio-diversity in a homestead flock.