When you’re hungry to learn as much as you can about breeding chickens, it can be hard to know where to turn and which books to read.
There is no single book that contains everything you need to know about poultry genetics and how to breed chickens, but by reading widely —including not only the classic texts but blogs and breed groups discussions — you’ll be able to piece together a decent working knowledge.
For an animal that has been domesticated for as long as 10 000 years, with its genome fully mapped and extensively bred to create hundreds of varieties, there are still a lot of things a budding chicken breeder can only discover by trial and error.
From knowing the genetic basis of common faults to understanding which traits are polygenic and which are inherited in simple dominant/recessive fashion, it can be surprisingly difficult to find reliable, science-backed answers to basic breeding questions.
This article will share some of the commonly recommended books on poultry genetics, and give you some ideas for other ways to learn about chicken breeding.
Best Books On Chicken Breeding
It’s tricky to find one book that provides a comprehensive yet practical overview of all that’s known about poultry genetics and how to apply it to breeding chickens.
Often the best book on chicken breeding can depend on where you are in your journey and what information you most need at that moment, to propel you forward.
Many of the available books were written in the 1900s and still constitute recommended reading.
Classic chicken breeding and poultry genetics books include:
- Genetics of the Fowl by F B Hutt
- Genetics in Practice: Expert Techniques for Successful Chicken Breeding, F B Hutt and Robert Plamondon
- Inheritance in Poultry by Charles B Davenport
- Genetic Laws Governing The Breeding of Standard Fowls: Outbreeding, Inbreeding and Linebreeding All Recognized Breeds of Poultry by Wetherell Henry Card
Books that are arguably too complex for a beginner may come into their own later on, or warrant a revisit, once you have established the base knowledge with which to make sense of more complicated material.
Of course, every chicken breeder’s library must include a copy of:
- The American Standard of Perfection, 44th Edition by the American Poultry Association
Aside from books and text books, information about chicken genetics and how to breed chickens can be sourced from:
- eBooks and downloadables
- The internet including articles, membership websites, blogs, online courses, even Instagram
- Podcasts
- Chicken clubs, breed groups, both in your local area and online e.g. Facebook
- Poultry magazines
- Mentors — Nothing better, if you find a good one
Trustworthy authorities on chicken genetics and breeding can be hard to come by.
A sample of some voices worth listening to are:
- Brian Reeder, author
- Grant Brereton, educator
- Kenny Troiano, podcaster, runs The Breeder’s Academy website
- Sigrid van Dort, Dutch breeder and author of books on chicken genetics
If there is something specific you’re wondering about, it can be worth a search on Google Scholar to see if research has been done into that particular topic.
Sometimes it’s necessary to extrapolate from one field to another e.g. a book about evolutionary genetics or turkey breeding may contain information equally applicable to chickens.
Is Sigrid Van Dort A Geneticist?
Sigrid van Dort is a chicken breeder and self-described amateur geneticist who’s written several detailed books on poultry genetics, replete with helpful photographs.
Genetics of Chicken Colors and Genetics of Chicken Extremes are the two essentials.
Breeding chickens in The Netherlands, she self-publishes her books, which need to be purchased directly from her in hard copy.
She also publishes a website and moderates a Facebook group where you can post questions and receive responses directly from van Dort with input from other members of her community.
Sigrid van Dort is also a talented artist who makes beguiling portraits of chickens.
What Does a Master Breeder Mean In Chickens?
So how can you tell who is a reputable source on chicken breeding?
Some of those offering courses on poultry genetics call themselves “master” breeders.
Is this a real qualification or a self-described status?
It may be both, depending on who’s making the claim.
According to the American Bantam Association, master breeder is a title bestowed on someone who has 20 “starred wins” to their name, in one breed and variety.
Starred wins are achieved when a bird beats 100 others in any class or, in smaller shows, if the bird is named Champion or Reserve of show.
20 starred wins in different breeds or varieties results in the title of Master Exhibitor.
The wins must be spread over a minimum of five years and you have to be a member of the ABA.
How To Get A Mentor For Breeding Chickens
Chicken breeding circles can be cliquey and, with the sale of hatching eggs competitive.
Those in the know may be reluctant to share not just their genetics, but their hard-earned knowledge that’s been built over many decades in a life-long endeavor.
This closed shop is counterproductive when the goal is preservation of a heritage breed, but it’s something newcomers need to find a way to navigate.
It might be a case of participating in an online community and, little by little, developing relationships with breeders you respect.
From time to time you may find that rare commodity: a successful breeder who’s achieved a high degree of excellence with their chosen breed and is willing to share what they know.
So much the better if they’re able to communicate complex genetic concepts in an understandable way, one that makes it clear how to apply those genetic principles in the brood pen.
While you can go a long way with basic selective breeding towards desirable traits and away from defects, the more you know, the more possible it becomes to predict the results of particular pairings, which can shave years of a breeding plan.
Do You Have To Be Registered To Breed Chickens?
Chicken breeding has a touch of the Wild West about it.
Anyone can reproduce chickens and call themselves a breeder, describing their birds as “show quality”.
Shipped eggs bought and sold without being seen in person are a lottery at the best of times.
While there’s something appealing about welcome-all-comers approach, the lack of regulation can make reputable chicken breeders tough to find.
Breed associations are a good place to start and poultry shows let you meet breeders, see birds in the real and substantiate claims of quality.
In the end, any chickens you buy or hatch from bought eggs will likely be a work in progress that you will have to further develop over many years.
When you find a good breeder, whose birds you know to be quality, they can become a valuable resource and someone to cultivate as a person to ask your burning questions.
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Conclusion
Learning how to breed chickens and developing an understanding of poultry genetics is about gleaning as much information as you can, from wherever you can get it.
Read everything you can get your hands on, applying a critical eye.
Pay attention in chicken groups, particularly those that are breed-specific and include some very experienced breeders who are wiling to share what they know.
Ask lots of questions and read back through useful threads.
Find out what resources are recommended by other breeders and seek them out.
Above all, share what you know!
References
International Chicken Genome Sequencing Consortium, Sequence and comparative analysis of the chicken genome provide unique perspectives on vertebrate evolution.Nature432, 695–716 (2004)
