@Chooksman - So the primary purpose of the Black cross will be to enhance / reinforce the dark egg genes and introduce the genes for pink undertones in the legs? I’m intrigued by this project and am still learning the breeding genetics. Keith
here the method I m going a use . I made this formula my self .
First crosses ;
1} Solid Black cockerels E/ER. i+/i+ over a dominant white pullets ER/ER .I/i+ = all the cockerels chicks will be dominat white half solid and half ER copper based . all the pullets chicks will be coloured .half solid black E/ER other half will be BC .
I ll keep a solid white cockerels and a solid black pullets from this cross . this population is F1A.
2} Dominant White rooster ER/ER. S/s+ .I/i+ only one copy of a dominant white gene. crossed to Solid Black pullets E/ER .. I ll get 25% male chicks solid White E/ER. 25% male chicks solid Black E/ER. 25% pullets chicks dominant white ER/ER. and 25% pullets chicks BC. I only keep the best Solid white and a solid Black cockerel.
2} Solid Black cockerel E/ER Crossed to recessive White pullets Ewh/Ewh. c+/c+. I ll get 25% male chicks solid Black .E/Ewh. split white C/c+. 25% male chicks BC ER/Ewh .255 pullets chickssolid Black split white E/Ewh. C/c+. 25% Black copper impure .
I only keep the solid Black /split white cockerels and pullets . the BC are Cull .
chooks man