Breeding records help (chickens)

[Buckeye Homestead]

Hi! So, I've been considering breeding Exabition Black Australorps. I was wondering what things I should know about when it comes to genetics and traits to look for and the like. The bigger thing I was wondering is how to keep breeding records? I know there are different ways, but I would like to hear what works for people that do these things. any other information or advice is appreciated and welcomed!

 

[Finnie]

Hi, welcome to the forum! I was going to suggest that you might get answers from more experienced chicken people over on Backyard Chickens but I see that you already did!

Breeding record help

Hey! So, I've been considering breeding Exabition Black Australorps. I was wondering what things I should know about when it comes to genetics and traits to look for and the like. The bigger thing I was wondering is how to keep breeding records? I know there are different ways, but I would like...

www.backyardchickens.com

Good luck with your Australorp project. You know what would be really cool? If you bred Buckeye chickens! (Maybe with a username like that you already do. )

 

[Mini Horses]

Leg bands are your friend.

 

[farmerjan]

For our purebred show chickens over the years we use leg bands for the adults. Then as chicks are born, use toe punches to identify until they are old enough to start making culling decisions and big enough for leg bands. And always monitor legbands on growing birds so they don't get too tight. You want them to fit so they can't get them off, but the bigger birds legs will get bigger fast and it is easy to forget to check legbands .
If possible breed in pairs to be very detailed on how chicks do... or in trios where the 2 females are full sisters.
I prefer to do pairs.... Housing the 2 females next to each other in pens and switching the male between the pens every 3-4 days or so; or switching the females.... Semen from a rooster can be viable in the female for up to 2 weeks... so if you decide to switch to a different male, you need to allow a 2 week stretch before you start to save eggs for hatching from the new male.... If you want, you can save eggs for a week after the last breeding, then put the new male in, eat the eggs for a week, then start saving from the new pairing.

Once you get some females that are related, you can breed in pens as the chicks should grow to be similar. Different breeders birds will show different traits, so it is good to see what matings "click"

 

[farmerjan]

I am assuming you are in Ohio , hence the Buckeye in your name. Have you been to the Ohio National poultry show in Columbus in Nov???? It is the biggest in the country now...
My plans are to go this Nov 2025... I attend our Va Poultry breeders show and used to go to several shows regularly in the northeast when I was younger... Haven't shown much lately but getting back into it.