Few poultry farmers will venture on breeding experiments at home, because such work requires some knowledge in the field of zoology and genetics. That important to consider for beginning breeders, we will tell further in article.
Signs for the selection of chickens
Any breeding experiments pursue the main goal - to breed thoroughbred chicks, exactly meeting the requirements of the standard of a particular breed. Therefore, it is important to carry out a competent selection of the maternal generation. 
Moreover, in each line of crosses a corresponding complex of qualitative and quantitative characteristics is formed, which are the basis of selection. At this stage, special attention should be paid to a number of signs of poultry. Consider them in more detail.
Important! For incubation or incubation, eggs are recommended to be collected every 2 hours. To this end, the subject is taken with both index and thumb for both ends, trying to minimize the touch to the shell.
Egg laying intensity
This is the foundation of the maternal branch. It includes not only the mass and quality of the eggs produced, but also the rate of egg production, cyclicality and stability. The selection of chicken livestock is based on the main indicators of the family, which largely depends on environmental factors and conditions of poultry. 
The process of the formation of eggs in the body of the hens is very complicated. It begins with the development of eggs and the formation of yolk masses. The period of their maturation does not coincide in time: some are already perfect, and others are at the bud stage. On average, in the ovary of each physiologically healthy chicken can form about 3 thousand eggs.
When the hen reaches its sexual maturity, an active period of maturation of these cells begins. Owing to the rupture of the membranes of the ovary, they enter the oviducts, where protein substance is formed. The shell covers the formed egg at the final stage in the uterus. Normally, the formation of one egg can take from 23 to 26 hours. In adequate housing conditions, chickens already carry fertilized eggs. This process is carried out in the upper funnel of the oviduct.
Important! Selected eggs for further breeding should preferably be placed under the hen or in the incubator container on the day of collection. And if necessary, they are recommended to be stored in a cool place at a temperature of 8-12 degrees Celsius with sharp ends down. After 5 days, they will no longer be suitable for further breeding of chickens. Consider that with each day of storage the percentage of hatchability of offspring decreases.
Note that in the initial phases of the egg-laying, the laid eggs are small in size, which is explained by the physiological characteristics of the layers. To determine the mass of eggs of breeding chickens, you need to weigh 3 pieces in a row at the age of 30-52 weeks. 
Consider that these indicators are affected by:
- chicken body weight;
- terms of puberty;
- egg production level (as determined by the specificity of the breed).
Ideally, the following parameters are suitable for further fertilization for all breeding characteristics:
- egg weight - 55-65 g;
- egg production ―280-300 pieces.
Learn how to properly cross chickens at home.
Bird Viability
This sign of selection of breeding stock of chickens is determined by the general hereditary qualities of resistance. Every organism is more or less vulnerable to adverse environmental factors, viruses and bacteria. Depending on the indicators of the immune system of the bird, a certain set of genetic qualities, an indicator of the preservation of the flock for a particular period is formed.
Did you know? In the ranking of the most expensive and rare chicken breeds in the world, the descendants of the wild Indonesian roosters Ayam Cemani, who are distinguished by non-standard black plumage with dark purple tint, dark skin, eyes, claws, comb and even entrails, are in the lead. It is characteristic that after cooking the black meat of this bird does not lose its unique color. For a couple of such chickens, many tourists are ready to give more than 5 thousand US dollars, because they believe that the black color of the pen symbolizes wealth and success, which means that it will give eternal happiness to its owner..
Viability data of breeding chickens are calculated as a percentage of the surviving livestock to the initial number of chicks. Usually breeding work is based on an analysis of a 17-week bird, as well as the results of studies of the full life cycle.
Selection methods
In the process of selection work, it is possible to achieve improvement of some qualities of the maternal and paternal livestock. Using different methods, breeders seek to improve several signs at once. For example, increase the live weight of carcasses, increase egg production, change the external characteristics of hatched chicks. 
It is characteristic that the methods used to stimulate egg-laying are not suitable for increasing the live weight of chickens and the weight of eggs. Such techniques can increase the viability of young and mature flocks. Moreover, for further crosses, samples with minimal waste and the highest viability are predominantly taken. Here is the ratio of chicken groups in breeding plants:
- nesting mating - 5-8%;
- the tester - 25-42%;
- multiplier, including indicators in the forefathers line - 50-70%;
- egg weight (these characteristics are transmitted along the paternal line and must not be below average values).
Did you know? In the world there are only 300 heads of representatives of the amazing Vietnamese fighting breed of chickens Ha Dong Tao. It is considered the rarest and is distinguished by heavy carcasses of males and females (up to 7 kilograms of live weight) and thick scaly legs. Just imagine - the paw of an adult rooster of this breed in the girth corresponds to the thickness of the foot of a five-year-old child.
Breeding traits
In the future, it is important to focus on a number of specific signs of chicken stock. Consider them in more detail.
Egg production
This is the most important characteristic of each layer, depending on the period of its sexual maturity. The earlier a hen enters this phase of its development, the better is its egg-laying. Based on the data obtained, an analysis is formed for the breeding herd, family and line as a whole. 
Puberty
The sign is calculated based on the cyclical maturation of the eggs of the layers. The specific number of days is taken into account. Note that the indicator is determined for each chicken separately, but it takes into account the average data within the family of the breeding line.
Egg laying dynamics
Calculated weekly throughout the entire production phase of the chicken. Also, the age category of the laying hens and the duration of the egg-laying, its decline and peak period should be taken into account. Dynamics is determined in average values within the herd.
Did you know? Many breeders consider representatives of the Australian Whitesulli breed to be true giants. Some of them even got into the Guinness Book of Records. We are talking about the Big Snow rooster, which weighed 10.36 kg, at the withers reached a height of 43 cm, and the girth of his chest was 84 cm.
Character curve egg production
In order to obtain reliable data, it is necessary to take into account the indicators obtained at the 40th or 65-68th weeks of the bird's life. To do this, subtract the possibility of identity of objective values obtained during the week or month. To assess the nature of the curve, it is important to consider the information obtained in the form of graphs. 
Egg weight
In order to evaluate this selection trait of selected breeding samples, the eggs of poultry must be weighed, which has reached 26 weeks of age. Other breeders consider as more reliable the data obtained from the analysis of the life activity of the hens from the 30th to the 52nd week from the day of its birth.
The collection of information consists in individually weighing each 8th, 9th and 10th consecutively laid eggs. Thus, when processing the analysis done, the average egg mass of each laying hen is displayed, as well as the average values within the family and breeding line.
When mating breeds such as: Leggorn, Cochinquin, New Hampshire, Plymouthrock striped and Wyandot, you can get good results.
Feed conversion
This is a subjective assessment of breeding samples of chickens selected during the week. The amount of feed spent per one head of a bird per day, as well as the number and weight of eggs received during this period are taken into account. 
Weight of hens and roosters
For the analysis of breeding qualities of chicken livestock, individual data of live weight of roosters and hens are important. Experts advise to build on the indicators:
- body weight of the entire bird at 17 weeks of age;
- body weight of layers at the 52nd week of life.
Important! Only eggs with a regular oval shape are suitable for incubation. Slightly elongated, truncated or compressed specimens limit the development of the embryo inside.
Presence of marker genes
This is a very scrupulous work that newcomers will not be able to do. In the process of breeding experiments to obtain purebred chicks, it is important to pay attention to the presence of genes that mark a certain gender:
- banding;
- solid color;
- silver and gold in plumage;
- shades and ebb feathers;
- color and pattern of fluff on day-old chickens, as well as on adult birds;
- specifics, differences late and early plumage;
- feather growth rate.
Genetic anomalies
This is an important indicator to assess embryonic embryonic development. At the stage of collecting and processing information, it is necessary to open the eggs that are frozen during the incubation period and individually analyze the causes, identifying genetic abnormal phenomena from them. Each of them is subject to separate labeling and coding.
Safety of the young generation
This feature of breeding livestock provides an analysis of the case, as well as the reasons for the forced rejection of the flock. The safety of young stock is estimated from 17 weeks of age. In addition, the vital viability data of a mature bird is important.
Did you know? The number of chickens is three times the number of people on the planet. In addition, scientists tend to think that these birds are descendants of tyrannosaurs.
In private farms, as in industrial production, it is important to carry out a rigorous selection of females and males of the breed of hens you like, not only on the basis of the characteristics of the exterior. Roosters, as the basis of half of the genetic stock of the herd produced, have the same meaning for posterity as the hens. Therefore, special requirements are imposed on the selection of the paternal and maternal lines. We hope our article will help you in the implementation of the planned breeding experiments.
