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Three schemes for reducing inbreeding of hens

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How to defeat inbreeding? With what schemes?

Inbreeding should be defeated by decreasing the relatedness between roosters and hens. In general this is possible by using one of the following three schemes.

Shared breeding of a breed

20 breeding groups are formed (20 breeders) where each group consists of one rooster and 10-12 hens.

The second mount (reconstitution of the breeding group) is done at least from the second year of age of the hens.

The roosters for the replacement of each group are chosen among the 20 breeders in a random and non-repeated way, taking care not to return to the same breeder before 5 generations (10 years).

Single breeder closed cycle

It provides for a single farm to raise 500 hens: 300 in the first laying cycle, 150 in the second cycle and 50 in the third.

The second year hens come from the choice (50%) of the first year hens; the third year hens come from the choice (30%) of the second year hens; the first year hens hatch from the eggs produced by the second laying cycle hens.

Cockerels are obtained from hens in the third laying cycle.

Local evolutionary population

A breeder, or a group of breeders, begins to breed a particular breed.

The replacement (reconstitution of the breeding stock) is carried out at least from the second year of age of the hens.

The cocks are chosen from breeders in the same area who breed different but similar breeds.

It is only possible to return to the same breeder after 5 generations (10 years).

Other ways of defeating inbreeding can be used but must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

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