Columbian wyandottes

Is it true that all CW have slate under color?
I'd like to breed to a CW male to put smaller combs on my Light Sussex hens. But I don't want to lose light down color @ hatch.
I breed sex links for my layers. And may have to hold out for a rose comb RIR. Rather than a commercial red as I have used in the past.

geco812 said:

Is it true that all CW have slate under color?
I'd like to breed to a CW male to put smaller combs on my Light Sussex hens. But I don't want to lose light down color @ hatch.
I breed sex links for my layers. And may have to hold out for a rose comb RIR. Rather than a commercial red as I have used in the past.

Click to expand...

Hi,
Welcome to BYC. Yes, CW have slate in their undercolor because they are eb(brown) locus. The Light Sussex is white t the skin because it is eWh locus. So not only are you crossing breeds, you are crossing Locuses. Not a good idea. The Delaware is eWh based Columbian with the barring gene, easier to get rid of.
Frankly tho, loving this variety, I suggest you find another strain of Light Sussex with smaller combs and go that route. Might try Waltz's Ark in Colorado or Sunset Meadows Farms in OH. Jan Childs has some lovely Light Sussex at her Cornerstone Farm. All have websites.
Best,
Karen

I have to agree with Karen that you would be doing an uphill battle. Rose comb is supposed to be dominate and so would would be fighting side sprigs, and other issues. I would think that a Columbian Rock might work but again you still have under color issues. You would not have comb issues but you would end up with under color, yellow legs etc.

Rob

Karen...two questions...
Any good ideas on how to get better yellow legs on our Columbian Wyandottes?
How about ideas on building better egg size?

Rob

Hello Rob...Happy New Year.

I'm not Karen, but I'm working on yellow legs on my CW and egg size for my laying hens/ pullets has reached a nice 58 a 62 grams this year.

My limited understanding is pairing a cock with good color and nice clear yellow legs over a hen with good type and color brings a better yellow to the offspring. The chicks I'm hatching now have nice clean legs...no grey over yellow. Will keep records on their growth and leg color.

For egg size, I'm researching that....hatching larger eggs from older hens helps increase egg size.
Trap nesting to determine who lays the nicer eggs helps determine which hen goes under the cock. Using only cockerels hatched from hens who lay larger eggs ....this is what advice I've found.

I'm still working on the length of the cockerels tails this year as well as combs. Type and color is improving.

Are any breeders interested in providing poultry to home/ small scale operations
Or mostly to show?
The reason I would want to obtain a non Hatchery breed is broodyness and hardyness
Along with specific breed traits ie yellow legs comb type down color sex links etc.

Cross post to Columbian Wyandotte thread


Are any breeders interested in providing poultry to home/ small scale operations
Or mostly to show?
The reason I would want to obtain a non Hatchery breed is broodyness and hardyness
Along with specific breed traits ie yellow legs comb type down color sex links etc.

geco812 said:

Cross post to Columbian Wyandotte thread


Are any breeders interested in providing poultry to home/ small scale operations
Or mostly to show?
The reason I would want to obtain a non Hatchery breed is broodyness and hardyness
Along with specific breed traits ie yellow legs comb type down color sex links etc.

Click to expand...

As for sex-linking...you can put any red colored male on white and you will obtain a sex-link from what I have read. Last year I did an experiment of Barnevelder Male and Columbian Wyandotte females. Males turned out to be black and white and females a buff with lacing on the neck. I was please to see what happened but it was just an experiment and will not do it again.

If you are looking for broody...the buckeyes I had were very broody, my wyandottes are some years yes and other no. Two years ago non went broody, last year just about all of them went broody sometime in the laying season.
Rob

I would like to open up a discussion on building a good columbian patterned bird. I am opening a new thread soon and hope that those who raise columbian patterned birds will join in and help everyone learn from their experiences. The thread will be called "Building Columbian Patterned Birds". Hope to see some of you there.

Rob

Rancher3535 said:

As for sex-linking...you can put any red colored male on white and you will obtain a sex-link from what I have read.  Last year I did an experiment of Barnevelder Male and Columbian Wyandotte females.  Males turned out to be black and white and females a buff with lacing on the neck.  I was please to see what happened but it was just an experiment and will not do it again. 

If you are looking for broody...the buckeyes I had were very broody, my wyandottes are some years yes and other no.  Two years ago non went broody, last year just about all of them went broody sometime in the laying season.
Rob

Click to expand...

Put a RIR on White leghorn you won't get a sex link
Put a gold (RIR etc) on a silver (columbian whatever) then the daughters will be the color of the sire.