Evolutionary Factors that can Change the Direction of Your Strain Have you ever wondered how we ended up with chickens that lay 300 eggs a year or grow to market weight in just a few weeks? In this […]

Is Double Mating right for You? It is impossible to talk about breeding for color or mating birds to achieve certain color variations without discussing, in detail, […]

The Positive and Negative effects of Assortative Mating The term “Assortative” refers to the classifying and selecting of certain, but distinctive characteristics or traits. Assortative […]

Yard Mating or Flock Mating? OTHERWISE KNOWN AS “YARD MATING”:“Flock Mating,” simply means that a number of brood cocks, maybe several, are allowed to run loose w […]

BROOD FOWL – How Old Is Too Old or How Young is too Young? I’m sure you’ve heard it said many times, “Never breed to that “old worn-out” cock or hen, no matter how proven they may be.” Alth […]

BREEDING TO YOUTH, A COMMON PRACTICE? We have all heard stories about the “Golden Hen” – where in her sixth year, produced some of the best stags, that would become gre […]

IN PURSUIT OF PERFECTION Progress is made by selecting one trait, not from the selection of multiple traits When selecting brood fowl, seldom does a breeder […]

Breeding Practices Simplified Mastering Breeding: Genetics, Selection, and the Path to Purity Welcome to Episode 254 of Bred to Perfection, brought to you by […]

The Advantage to Stud Mating This method of mating is often discussed, but rarely ever used, yet, next to “Single Mating,” “Stud Mating” should be conside […]

The Crucial Role of Selection in Breeding Success In this episode, we talk about one of the most misunderstood—but absolutely essential—elements of successful breeding: SELECTION. Whi […]

The Benefits of Group-Mating (Pen-Mating) Group Mating is just as it sounds. It is the mating of a single brood cock with that of a group of hens, all together, in the same […]

How establish a proven breeding line? Single Mating! Having been a breeder for many years, I am frequently asked, “How do you establish a proven breeding line?” My an­swer involves a […]

THE BEST METHOD OF MATING? The first step in breeding, is mat­ing, to put a cock and hen together for the purpose of reproduction. This sounds very simple, and […]

WHAT IS THE BEST AGE FOR BROODFOWL? How Young or How Old Should They Be? Once you have established your foundation fowl (the family), and the individual breeding lines, […]

BREEDING FROM THE YOUNG OR OLD? Examining the True Value of the Hen and Pullet, Cock and Stag as Breeders of High Quality Offspring BREEDING FROM MATURE HENS A […]

Unlocking the Secrets of Chicken Breeding with Brian Reeder Inbreeding, Genetics & Feeding for the Future In the world of poultry breeding, few names stir thoughtful conversation quite like […]

AGE OF PARENTS AND ITS EFFECTS ON HATCHABILITY As compared with the larger classes of livestock, such as cattle and horses, poultry are relatively short-lived creatures. For the […]