Re: About the crossing of strains... Like Amir said, crossing different strains is fine as long as you understand it's a long range, well thought out plan with a lot of culls because you are widening the gene pool. It takes years to get everything in line again. For example, crossing the Fehrholz with the Husbands would be many steps backwards with no meaningful purpose. We have tried it and you get birds all over the scale. Some fly low, some high, some in-between. It would take years and careful planning to straighten that out.
I can see the necessity of crossbreeding in certain circumstances:
1) If you started out with the German or American show birds who haven't been tested in the air in 30 generations or more. In this case you need the influx of performance blood.
2) Your strain just don't perform up to your expectations anymore and you have no access to good birds in your own strain.
3) If you want to introduce a new color.
4) Your strain is too inbred. Usually, this takes decades
There can be other reasons as well. But to do it with no plan you can ruin the entire stud.
Member of the National Pigeon Association, Flying Oriental Roller Society, Horseman Pouter Club of North America, Voorburg Shield Cropper Club and the Tucson Pigeon Club
Like Amir said, crossing different strains is fine as long as you understand it's a long range, well thought out plan with a lot of culls because you are widening the gene pool. It takes years to get everything in line again. For example, crossing the Fehrholz with the Husbands would be many steps backwards with no meaningful purpose. We have tried it and you get birds all over the scale. Some fly low, some high, some in-between. It would take years and careful planning to straighten that out.
I can see the necessity of crossbreeding in certain circumstances:
1) If you started out with the German or American show birds who haven't been tested in the air in 30 generations or more. In this case you need the influx of performance blood.
2) Your strain just don't perform up to your expectations anymore and you have no access to good birds in your own strain.
3) If you want to introduce a new color.
4) Your strain is too inbred. Usually, this takes decades
There can be other reasons as well. But to do it with no plan you can ruin the entire stud.
Alan,I think your last sentence is the most important.I've said on here before that I don't see anything wrong with someone outcrossing birds to try to get better performance,but I think you should always hold back some "pure" birds so you can go back to a proven line if things don't work out as planned.
--- Nick Grzywacz
grzywacznkl@aol.com
"I hope he doesn't catch that black mottle.....AWH $%*%!!!!"
