How to Breed Poultry

Most poultry breeding and egg production today happens in large commercial factory farms. However, the recent emphasis on consuming "local" food and the tough economic times have meant an increase in backyard poultry rearing for eggs and meat. Breeding for these operations is something of a lost art. You must learn these proper breeding techniques, however, to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of your flock.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 chicken pens
  • Separate turkey pen for each male
  • Mating saddles for turkey hens
  • Feed
  • Water
  • Straw or wood chips
Show More

Instructions

  1. Chickens

    • 1

      Select the best breeding stock you can find.

    • 2

      Keep two pens, one for the most recent flock and one for all older birds.

    • 3

      Mate the best-looking cockerels and pullets from the newest generation to the best breeders from the previous year.

    • 4

      Combine the flock, once mated, culling for the best producers.

    • 5

      Keep one male for every 10 to 12 females for the best breeding results.

    Turkeys

    • 6

      Acquire the best breeding stock you can find. Look for the highest "fertility" and "hatching" percentages. Fertility is the percentage of eggs fertilized based on examination by candling. Hatching is the percentage that finally hatch.

    • 7

      Tag both hens and stags for good record keeping.

    • 8

      Choose between flock mating and pen mating. With flock mating, you run several stag turkeys with the hens on a large area of land. This is only possible if you have enough land that each cock can establish his own area without fighting with the other males. Pen mating keeps the flock inside in a pen at least 1.2 meters high. You need two pens so you can alternate the birds monthly, cleaning and resting the empty pen. Cover the floor with wood shavings or fresh cut straw. Keep the pen in a well-lit and well-ventilated area. Place perches or straw bales about 45 cm off the ground. Provide each hen with a nest box that is 45 cm x 45 cm x 60 cm.

    • 9

      Introduce the sexes one month before laying begins.

    • 10

      Change diet to breeding pellets.

    • 11

      Make water and insoluble poultry grit available to birds at all times. Place drinkers and feeders so you can remove them for refilling and cleaning without entering the pen.

    • 12

      Rotate males each week once mating begins.

    • 13

      Keep a ratio of one stag for 10 hens.

    • 14

      Protect hens from injury during mating by fitting them with a canvas mating saddle that fits over the back and sides without restricting the wings.