The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: NorthWestPoultry.co.uk on December 20, 2010, 01:26:14 am
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hi guys i have breed poultry for auctions for a few years now welsummer barnevelder new hampshire reds... to name a few
but this year i seem to have been having some real trouble with the quailty of my offspring i have noticed now they are getting around 16/17 week
old i have some real poor quality birds rubbish markings in the barnevelder colors running big blotches of red on the welsummers all faults
can any one with more breeding knowledge explain whats causeing this and could it be with changeing my some of my cockerals at the start of the year
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Firstly have a very good look at your rooster, as he is 50% of what your breeding with. Unless he is a good example of the breed (you need to know what a good example looks like) replace him.
Your hens need to be as good as the male and if you have 4 but only 1 is any good just use the eggs from her to create your strain.
It may take longer but you may breed better birds that are worth more.
Have a look at my web site Marky there is a fair bit about breeding on there.
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thanks alot for your advise
one of the problems i have is like i say the welsummer
i had breed the hens the year before last year and the offsping was fine
but this year i changed the cockeral and the welsummer offspring this year from the same hens have big red blotches on the side of there wings ?
is this the cockeral you reckon or just a throwback
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I think you've answered this yourself really, last year was fine, this year you change the cockerel but use same hens.........ergo, it's your cockerel that's at fault!!! ;)
What made you change the cockerel??? ???