Test breeding

[Mindy Waters]

Okay, genetics gurus. When test breeding for a recessive trait, what would you say would be a good number of chicks to hatch from a pair of birds to know for sure??? This would be breeding an unknown (possible carrier) to a known homozygote to see if the one bird carries it. Thanks in advance.

[Mike Gilbert]

I personally would be quite comfortable after 10 or 12 chicks, and nearly 100% certain with 20 chicks.   Of course if you hatch one chick and it displays the undesired recessive you would not have to hatch any more. 

[Mindy Waters]

Thank you!