Selecting Our Breeders

Choosing breeders is where a breeding plan becomes real. The birds retained for reproduction determine which traits have another opportunity to appear in the next generation.

Selection Depends on the Project

There is no single checklist that fits every line. A heritage breed, an autosexing project, a meat-oriented Coturnix line, an egg-color project, and a bantam recreation can require very different priorities.

Traits We May Evaluate

• Overall health, vigor and soundness
• Breed or project type
• Body size and structure
• Temperament and manageability
• Fertility and hatch performance
• Egg production, egg size or egg color where relevant
• Feather color, pattern, barring or other visual traits
• Autosexing clarity in projects where that is a goal
• Family history and how close relatives have performed

Not Every Good-Looking Bird Is a Breeder

Appearance is only one piece of the decision. A bird can look impressive and still come from a family that repeatedly produces problems. We try to evaluate the animal together with the information available from its relatives and offspring.