Pigeon inbreeding and COI explained
The coefficient of inbreeding (COI) puts a number on how closely a bird's parents are related.
What the COI means
The coefficient of inbreeding is the probability that the two copies of a gene a bird carries came from the same ancestor. A COI of 0% means no common ancestor was found in the pedigree you have; higher figures mean the parents were more closely related.
Typical figures
| Pairing | COI of the young |
|---|---|
| Full siblings | 25% |
| Parent and child | 25% |
| Half siblings | 12.5% |
| First cousins | 6.25% |
| Half first cousins | 3.125% |
These assume the common ancestors were not inbred themselves. If they were, the figure is higher.
Linebreeding and inbreeding
Both mean pairing relatives. Fanciers usually say inbreeding for very close pairings, such as parent and child or brother and sister, and linebreeding for more distant ones, aimed at keeping a particular good ancestor strong in the family. The difference is one of degree.
Why fanciers watch it
Pairing relatives can fix the qualities you want, and it also doubles up on hidden faults. Too much for too long is generally linked with poorer fertility, hatching and vigour. There is no one correct figure: it depends on the quality of the birds and what you are trying to do.
How complete is your figure?
A COI only counts ancestors that are recorded, so a three-generation pedigree can make a bird look less inbred than it is. Try the free calculator, or let MyPigeons.net work it out from your records.
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