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Post by schroeder on Dec 8, 2011 20:43:23 GMT -5
I bought my Lavenders and 3 unrelated Blacks as day old chicks last spring. I hadn't reviewed this site nor researched the breed properly. I knew Orpingtons are on most people's list of favorite breeds, and I was infatuated with the Lavender coloration. I am pleased with the progress of my flock but I get the impression that the true Orpington enthusiast has little regard for the development of the Lavender variety. Have I sized this up properly, or is it a case of you all just wanting to downplay the color until it can be developed more closely to the orpington standard?
I plan to cross my Black cock with my Lavender pullets to improve the quality of my (F3) Lavenders. In retrospect I probably should have started out with a recognized variety. Regardless, I am committed to the course but curious why I find nothing in this forum about Lavenders save a few photos here and there. Will someone size up for me the UOC's opinion of Lavenders?
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Post by d12chandler on Dec 8, 2011 20:51:32 GMT -5
If you didn't know, the man that has done more on this Lav color is on here. I guess he was the one that started them. I have std buffs and I need to get them better before I try another color. I know several has them, but it's not talked alot. Don't know why. Harry, help me out here.
Don
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Post by Jon Alden on Dec 8, 2011 22:00:08 GMT -5
from my understanding most of the good breeders arent selling their Lav stock yet because they are still working on getting them up to standard
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Post by korfuskluckers on Dec 8, 2011 22:32:11 GMT -5
The lavenders are still a work in progress. It is good to know that you are willing to improve them. Many that I have seen lack type tremendously and size. Mine are coming along well and I hope to have true to type ones to sell in the next few years. YOu are on the right track breeding them to good type blacks. Harry Shaffer is the one that started the lavender craze and I was lucky enough back in 2007 to get a chick from the original pair that is the grandfathers of all the American lavender birds. Good luck and keep us updated on how they are coming along!
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Post by d12chandler on Dec 9, 2011 17:33:52 GMT -5
Are the lavs like the chocolates, you use blacks and black splits?
Don
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Post by charles on Dec 9, 2011 18:16:43 GMT -5
Don, You need to breed lavender to black all chicks will be black split to lavender. Breed these together and get all lavenders. Keep breeding lavenders back to black untill you you get your type and body size. Charles Working on bantam lavenders here.
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Post by charles on Dec 9, 2011 18:17:55 GMT -5
should have said you will get a percentage lavenders from the splits. Charles
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Post by harrys on Dec 9, 2011 18:43:00 GMT -5
Don, In reply to your comment. I really don;t have much to say about them right now. Maybe next year I will post a picture as soon as I figure out how.
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Post by schroeder on Dec 9, 2011 19:02:06 GMT -5
25% Black, 50% Splits & 25% Lavender
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Post by Jon Alden on Dec 9, 2011 19:17:21 GMT -5
Lavenders are similar but not the same as chocolates. In chocolates the gene is sex linked so the female carries only one gene. In Lavenders the gene is just recessive so you get the same thing in both males and females.
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Post by harrys on Dec 18, 2011 12:10:33 GMT -5
Well I do have something to add to this post. When I tried to find some LF black Orpington hens to create some lavenders for myself they were very difficult to find unlike recently they are abundant thanks to some members of this club. So I used a blue hen and a black hen out of necessity. Well reading about lavenders on another forum someone made a comment about using blues to clean them up. Well, no one has done any scientific research to prove this a fact or a fantasy that I am aware. I do not believe there is any different out come using blues or blacks other than the color that would be created. Perhaps someone has the answer and I would really enjoy reading their research papers if available.
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Post by bamachicken on Dec 18, 2011 15:53:11 GMT -5
Harry whenever you get ready to post pics i will be glad to walk you through it.
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Post by henthymes on Dec 18, 2011 18:13:07 GMT -5
I'm not sure about others, like you said not many talk about lavs, but I am working on them in bantams. Just hatched my first F2's last night, a lavender and two split blacks with more eggs in the bator over the next several weeks. I will take all the lavenders from this round and breed back to black bantams again trying to get them as close to standard as possible.
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Post by harrys on Dec 18, 2011 18:30:05 GMT -5
Julie AKA Bamachicken, Thank you for the offer. My computer crashed and now am using an old one until I get my other one fixed if I can. Lost all my pictures that I did have and now can not download anything unless my son uses his phone to send me the pictures by email.
Those that are interested in breeding lavenders there is a started thead on the Ameraucana Forum that discusses the problems with them. This is the reason blacks are so vital if you want to breed lavenders and improve/upgrade them.
Sorry, thread is under K factor and slow feathering.
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Post by lildinkem on Dec 18, 2011 19:54:15 GMT -5
Harry sent me some eggs going over a year and a half ago. He sent me some Lav eggs & Cuckoos as well. The one Lav cock I hatched when taken to a Black hen made this unique looking boy. I would guess you can call him a Blue Cuckoo. I would also think he is carrying the Lav gene as well. Seems like Harry has done everyone well with the genetics to make some nice birds.
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