Chick down color. Questions and answers

[lildinkem]

Harry wrote me and said we should have a thread on this variety about chick down color for us to compare and give suggestions and experiences. Sounds like a good idea for those who wish to get into White orps. There are a lot of new White Orp breeders we think could be interested in seeing a thread like this.
This pic is of 3 White chicks I hatched today that are 3/4's Harry's line. Their all from the same mother hen. And ofcourse Harry's cock is their daddy. Harry said he would cull the 2 yeller down ones. I on the other hand am seriously not taking chances and need type before color or brassiness concerns.

[harrys]

Bill, I keep the chicks that are grey with white cuckoo spots on their heads. I am hoping they are the silver based chicks. I culled the yellow chicks.

I had one that was charcoal black and was coming in so white but it was a male with dark legs and I could not afford the space to keep him and play with this bird. I am hoping to get another chick this year with that down color.

[lildinkem]

Sept 8, 2013 7:51:42 GMT -5 harrys said:

Bill, I keep the chicks that are grey with white cuckoo spots on their heads. I am hoping they are the silver based chicks. I culled the yellow chicks.

I had one that was charcoal black and was coming in so white but it was a male with dark legs and I could not afford the space to keep him and play with this bird. I am hoping to get another chick this year with that down color.

I asked Paul Montieth last nite. It is nice to have fellow White Orp breeders to call. Paul said he keeps both the Smokey Grey and the Yellow. I am just starting this line so I can not afford to be picky yet.

[harrys]

Bill,
I just found some articles and the old timers state that the grey down colored chicks are the ones to keep. I was also told to keep the pure white chicks by someone but can't remember who told me that now.

[harrys]

I found a reference which shows examples of chick down even though other breeds than from Orpingtons shows some examples which possibly you may be able to use as reference. Really have had a hard time to find examples other than on Feathersite.

www.esteshatchery.com/baby-chick-pictures.html

[gayle]

here is a page on a web site which give some info on chick down color.

sellers.kippenjungle.nl/page2.html

chick down color can be determined by the E-locus and the modifiers used to develop the genetic colors.