dave
41 posts
Nov 15, 2005
12:29 PM
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What have you guys based your family of birds on: a hen or a c**k? Some say find a very good c**k and some say a hen. Any input would be appreciated.
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Double D
83 posts
Nov 15, 2005
1:20 PM
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My preference would be a cock but I would select the best bird regardless of sex without any other choice. I would take the best hen over a cock that isn't quite what I want, even if he was close. I don't know that it matters as long as the foundation bird has everything you're looking for.
Where I got young birds from another fancier that have not been flown out, I'm following his pairing advice and then I will hopefully derive a foundation bird from the young of the original birds. Now if one of my original birds proves to be a real stud, (or studette as the case my be), and can really breed incredible young in the stock loft, then I'll revert back to that bird as my foundation bird unless something in the first generation proves to be better.
I don't know if all that made sense but that's my two cents.
Darin
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nicksiders
295 posts
Nov 15, 2005
2:57 PM
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It has been my experience that the hen is the domenent force genecally and in the air as well.
I currently do have a cock that I would like to breed with every breeder hen I have, but that is rare in my experience.
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merced guy
21 posts
Nov 15, 2005
7:47 PM
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dave, I think whomever is more prepotant in throwing you your ideal.
in the sport
thong
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J_Star
114 posts
Nov 16, 2005
4:42 AM
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Dave,
To start a strain, the best and least expensive way of making a start is to use one superior cock mated to two or three hens of good type and performance. The aim should be in the first season to mate him with as many hens as possible. A foundation hen can be used also, but it is very much slower process and she may not accept more than one mate in a season. So it has severe limitations. Althought, the process still the same where the breeder’s aim is building his stud on a single line of descent of an outstanding foundation bird.
Jay
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dave
42 posts
Nov 16, 2005
8:12 AM
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How many rounds should I get out of that cock from each hen so I can make a good judgement of his ability to reproduce?
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J_Star
115 posts
Nov 17, 2005
4:53 AM
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As much as you can. The cock at this stage of time is not to rear young. His reponsibilites just to make them. have some fosters around if you want to get the max out of him. The idea is test fly your young and the best hens out of them who shows the majority of the qualities, pair them back with their father the second season.
To answer your question, if you don't want fosters, about four round each. That gives you about 16 hens to choose from and fly the rest until replaced in the following season.
Jay
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Mount Airy Lofts
48 posts
Nov 17, 2005
10:19 PM
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The best method has always been to mate around the best bird regardless of sex. A foundation bird is a foundation bird.
I've heard a cock bird will pass on more of his genes to his off springs then a hen but to my knowledge, people have done well with either sex.
I am currently working with a foundation cock bird and a foundation hen bird. Funny how my foundation cock bird produces 90% cock off springs on any hens and my Foundation hen bird produces 80% hen off springs on any cock. I mated them both together and the pair produce 90% cock off springs.
I breed alot better percentage quality in Hens than cock in my family. This may be the norm because a Champion Cock is hard to come by and is RARE in my books.
Thor
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