turnedluck
New Member
New to Orpingtons - Blacks, Blues, Splashes
Posts: 16
|
Post by turnedluck on Oct 19, 2013 7:03:48 GMT -5
I am a newbie to chicken breeding and sorry to throw all these questions in one thread. Feel free to make separate threads.
Question #1.) I have black and blue chicks from black to blue matings. Is the color/markings of the chicks any indication of future color quality - ie with the blacks, some are "penguin" marked and some are more solid black? Is this an indication of the quality of the black color? Is the lacing on the blues obvious on the feathering at an early age or is it something that will develop with the molt?
Question #2.) How close are the Orps bred? I breed racing pigeons (check out my website - TurnedLuck.com) and do quite a bit of inbreeding/line breeding - is this the acceptable practice in chickens? I keep reading about keeping lines closed and breeding daughters and/or granddaughters back to their sires - how tight do most of you breed?
Question #3.) Are there male and female lines? Is this the case with certain colors and/or certain lines?
Question #4.) Is it best to maintain a straight black line (no blue) and a separate line to produce blues and splashes?
Question #5.) What suggestions do you have for some good genetic reading material?
Thanks for your time and you may also contact me by email - joegrimes@myactv.net. I am real serious about breeding an exhibiting Orps, but want to get started with the proper information.
|
|
|
Post by harrys on Oct 19, 2013 8:52:48 GMT -5
Sounds like you are more interested in blues than blacks. You should read whatever Gayle wrote here on this site about blues and she also had other genetic topics. Most of the imports are related so you can inbreed to a degree but you will find several people have similar genetic pools that you can pull from and not end up with a hetergeneous breeding program. As far as APA birds you will need to pay attention with where you got them from and what lines contributed to yours or you will end up with a sheer mess you will need then to spend a lot of time and money to correct. Good luck since you already have had success with racing pidgeons this should be a breeze with chickens for you.
|
|
turnedluck
New Member
New to Orpingtons - Blacks, Blues, Splashes
Posts: 16
|
Post by turnedluck on Oct 19, 2013 13:48:08 GMT -5
Thanks for the reply Harrys. I am actually interested in blacks, blues and splashes. Would eventually like to add another color or two - maybe chocolates and lavenders. What I have gathered from reading here so far, it seems best to keep a straight line of blacks to concentrate the melanisers. So I am assuming it is okay to use the blacks to improve the blues, but not to put the blues back in to the black line.
Right now I have 24 chicks from to two local breeders with not much knowledge about there background; though the breeder of six of them said they were from Korfus lines. I figured to find my way with these guys and then hopefully purchase some top notch stock after I have a better idea of what I am looking at.
Is there a place to look at the exhibitors list? How do I find the top breeders of particular colors?
Where can I find the APA Standard for Orpingtons? Do I have to buy the whole book? Where can I find the English Standard?
What breeding stock should I purchase - English or APA?
|
|
|
Post by harrys on Oct 19, 2013 14:01:11 GMT -5
For the SOP you can buy the cheaper used version or the better colored one if you wish on Ebay usually. The English version is very expensive unles you can find a used one somewhere.
As far as black improving blues they will only improve type but may ruin color. Keep reading what Gayle has posted because the pg gene is necessarry.
As far as APA or Uk standard birds or combination you will have to make your own decision as to your preferance. There are somethings one has to decide for themselves and take the results on your own accord. Just buy the best that you like that meets your budget. Remember only 1 chick in ten is generally good unless you get a strain that is prepotent.
|
|