Breeding trials test and interesting results

[bamachicken]

Well I have done a few trial test in Breeding this year. Surprised by the results. I have been breeding for blue with good lacing.
My first trial was breeding Black Cock over Splash hen. All resultant chicks being blue. Out of eleven Chicks hatched, Six are a beautiful blue color with great lacing. The other five are nice chicks but color to dark a blue. Have give all the dark ones away and kept the lighter ones

Next trial Lighter blue Cock over spllash hen. Results have been very surprising here. Thinking the splash would give lighter colored blues , I was wrong. I of course hatched a lot of splash chicks but the blues which are 8 of them are dark blue. One even looks black. So dark their legs look black instead of slate. I only have one blue chick with decent color as they are feathering in. All 4 weeks and under. This was a bit dissappointing.

I have two more trial going and have eggs set. I have a blue Cock that is slightly darker than I want over splash hens. I have Splash Cock over blue hens. I will let you know how this turns out.
As soon as I get done with these trials I am putting a very excellent blue cockerel over blue hens and see what comes out of that. I know it is reccomended to breed blue to blue and I gernally do that but I am doing these test for my own benefit. It seems obvious that breeding that lighter blue cockerel who is to light did not throw lighter blue chicks. Not even the one good colored one will as light as his father. These genes are so very interesting.

If anyone else has some test on these please post and let me know your results

[gayle]

Hi Julie

I have a blue rooster who has good top color, but that could be a matter of opinion. And has a little better than fair lacing. Put on dark blue girls, most of the girls have good lacing potential. My focus is on the splash that is coming off this mating. I noticed one chunky young female out there who is beginning to show some dark splashing, she can't be no older than 6-7 weeks. Time will tell. Yes blues are so unpredictable.

Yes I have come across some breeders who claim on blues, should only breed blue to blue.
But then I have come across other breeders who claim the only way to get good blues is breed Blacks(with lacing) to Splash (carrying lacing genetics).

I guess it depends on the genetics of your birds.

Also I was told by another breeder, that good blues can be obtained from birds that are carrying s+ sex-linked gold, so I am not going to fret no more over sex-linked gold in blacks, just cull for quality.

[bamachicken]

I totally agree Gayle. I haven't seen anyone with blues that didn't occaisonally throw red in the hackle if they have good color. It may be just one feather but it shows up occasiionally.
I will post pics of mine as they grow. I was showing Imogene the chicks off the Light Blue over splash and she was like me, just stunned that the legs are so black on these dark blues. Almost looks like that have a pair of black hose on. If i get a chance next week to make some pics of them I will. I am hoping to get some blacks hatched out soon. If it ever drys up here again i can have two black pens. 25 inches takes a long time dry out.