Good evening, I am coming on here in hopes to receive some commentary from Experienced breeders. I have been dealing with a terrible time getting any level of good fertility from my bantam Ameraucana. I am currently trying to work with Buff, Blue wheaten (wheaten) , white and black. Thus far I've been able to hatch and raise blacks and wheatens. I have my birds set up in the barn or outside breeding pens in pairs and or trios (more than one set per variety). I started with the Buffs in 2023 and to date have raised no more than 15 estimated birds despite setting a near endless supply of eggs. The later varieties are all new additions to me as of the past two seasons. I've been able to raise a few silvers with fertility from those although most recently aquired of all the varieties mentioned. Whites are the same issue as the Buff near every egg is clear. I would appreciate any and all advice. I am still getting more than enough eggs and setting regularly (both in the incubator and under setting hens) and at this point with the summer heat I suspect fertility to be low but it was never there to begin with. Thanks.
To get better fertility in the Buff bantams, I would recommend crossing in a Wheaten. Either male or female would work. Don't expect too much colorwise in the first generation, but breed the best conformation birds back to buff,or breed the F-1's together. If you do the latter, you will need to raise more to get good color. For the Whites, just cross them with blacks. Unless the blacks carry a copy of recessive white, all the F-1's will be colored. No problem. Just breed them back to Whites and you will get approximately half that are pure recessive White. Both outcrosses are at least a two generation process, and with the Buffs it may take another year or two, depending on how lucky you get.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate the feedback. I am currently doing the same with my large whites so I'll do so with the bantams and also work on the buff cross.
I believe Mikes advice is sound. Unfortunately some varieties are only holding on by a prayer with most new breeders being attracted to the latest fad projects. There are several recognized varieties on the verge of disappearing. 2ill only a small handful of dedicated breeders working on some of them I fear some suffer from inbreeding depression. Which will cause low fertility, lack of vigor and many other issues making it hard to hatch great numbers. Outcrossing would definitely bring in the needed vigor and I hope you make the crosses needed. I actually was just talking to Jerry DeSmidt about this today. Then I logged in to see your post, funny our God works 😉