Line Breeding????

[Jean]

Hi!

I have a question about breeding.  Is it correct to \"line\" breed mothers to sons and fathers to daughters with the chickens?  And not to breed siblings, unless they are only half siblings?

I just need to make sure I have it correct as I have raised some really nice birds from my starter flock and I want to try to get their traits coming out strong in all the offspring.

My main goal is to get those slate legs to keep popping up in my blacks.  I only have one exceptional black roo (I can borrow back) with slate legs and I was thinking of breeding him back to (his collective mommies) the three black hens with slate legs to see what I get.  I am really hoping that the cross will be about 90% black with slate legs since both parents are black and have slate legs.

Thanks alot,

Jean

[Mike Gilbert]

Your assumptions about line breeding is a good rule of thumb.
It certainly isn\'t a law, as what you do in setting up matings depends on what you are trying to accomplish.   If your goal is to \"set\" the slate legs in your blacks it sounds like you are on the right track.   It\'s always helpful to write out your goals in advance, take copious notes, and compare results with your original plans.    We learn more by making mistakes than by accidentally doing something right the first time, at least that has been true in my case.

[Jean]

Here are a few of my offspring so far this year that are hopefuls for slate legs on the black birds.  

I\'m in picture sharing mood tonight!