Successful Poultry Breeding

Blue Laced Red Wyandotte chick

The fine art of poultry breeding is extremely fascinating and there are many intricate details that need to be carefully anticipated. Though we can learn much from experience, we can learn alot more things quicker from reading. Details and tips that would of taken us years to learn from costly experience are readily available for us in books and in articles written by others who have carefully researched and have taken the time to document it. There are many, many secrets in regards to the breeding of poultry and following the guidelines outlined in The American Poultry Association's standard of perfection. One of the most important secrets is how to mate to produce birds that are of extreme merit in size, shape and color. Very important is the fact that the cock at the head of the breeding pen should be symmetrical in shape, strong, and vigorous. He will also need to be the offspring of a cock exhibiting the same fine traits. Remember that it is the male bird which has the greatest influence on the color of the chicks, especially of the cockerels. If finely colored males are desired it is necessary that the cock be of very fine color. Always remember "What you have is what you get". By mating a good sire to his own offspring the good breeding qualities of the parent bird will be passed along to the chicks. Color and other desirable qualities may be intensified by strict inbreeding. Please realize that if an error is made in the selection of the breeding stock undesirable traits may be inherited. It is believed by some breeders raising poultry that they must introduce a new bloodline from a different strain each year. By doing this they go backwards instead of forwards. Noticeably every breeder's birds are different in style and feathering. When these two different bloodlines are mixed some of the young may look like the cock and there will be some that will look completely different, unlike either parent. The second season such breeders usually get a male of a still different type and mate him to the pullets of different types. The result is that they have no good birds among the offspring, and hardly any two chicks resembling each other. If you get what you want from a reliable breeder stay with that breeder. The hen should possess a strong constitution, prolific laying qualities and large size. We look to the hen to impart size to the offspring. She must have great coloring in her feathers, legs and beak. Her ear-lobes and comb must also be carefully examined. Most importantly is she should be symmetrical In shape. Many times the breeding qualities of the hen are overlooked or underrated, which is a great mistake. 

After carefully selecting your stock for the  breeding pens it is essential that your birds receive proper care and nutrition. Always give them fresh water daily and greens as often as possible. Chicks need to be closely monitored and carefully tended to from the time they leave the shell until they reach full maturity. This is another secret in successful breeding that apparently Is only known to a handful of poultry enthusiasts.