Laying hen development method - using crosses of Warren and New Hampshire birds, and Wyandottes selected over several generations to produce two strains

摘要

The Warren breed (A), is crossed with a line of hens of New Hampshire origin. The descendants of this cross are selected over several generations to produce a breed maintaining the main characteristics of breed (A) and producing heavier eggs, resulting from the genes of the New Hampshire breed. A line is also modified by crossing with hens of Wyandotte origin, of reduced size, likewise selecting over several generations a line (D) retaining the main characteristics of line (C) and the reduced-size genes of Wyandotte origin. Lines (A) and (B) are crossed to produce chickens, the cockerels being kept as parents, lines (C) and (D) being crossed to produce pullets kept as parents both for the new laying breed.