a X question

[ameraucanacrazy]

if i cross a dark Brahma rooster over buff Brahma hens and light Brahma hens what would i get

 

[tadkerson]

Quote:
DB X buff = light brahma like birds males will show some straw color in the hackles and maybe some buff on the back and wings, breasts will be partial silver and black smut
with some false spangling, females will show some black markings on the breast which may take the form of false spangling.

DB X light brahma= males will look similar to a light brahma, females will also look similar to a light brahma; both males and females will show some false spangling and have some black mixed in with the silver

Tim

 

[matte]

Hi Tim, I've got a different question, but the topic title fits, so:
Can you explain a little about "out-crossing". I have been frustrated in my quest to find truly large, meaty, old-type New Hampshires. Bill Braden, Ron Presley, and everyone else I've contacted have expressed the same frustration.
I've read another post about a knowledgeable Buckeye breeder outcrossing with a Dark Cornish to get shorter, thicker thighs and breasts.
1) If my goal is true New Hampshires, but I want to somehow increase size, would this be a possibility?
2) If so, would Dark Cornish be a good choice...or something like a meaty White Rock?
3) Would I use a hen or rooster of the out-cross breed?
4) After breeding that offspring back to the true New Hamp, for several generations would I be guaranteed to get back to New Hamp birds, or depending on the out-cross breed, would I never get back there?

Sorry for all the questions, I would sure appreciate your opinions on the best way to go about this. Thanks!

 

[matte]

Quote:
I should add that I like all of the traits of the old-type New Hamps, including broodiness. That's one reason I thought something like Dark Cornish might be better to use than a large Rock. However, are there some traits that are more likely to "stick" than others? Broodiness, egg laying, meaty size...when out-crossing??

 

[tadkerson]

Quote:
I have been working on a similar project for 5 years. I have been working on producing a free range slow growing broiler ( old Indian River or delaware type). Maintaining size is a problem when trying to breed to a specific color pattern. Large size in chickens is determined by many different genes and pieces of DNA that are not genes. The pieces of DNA control the genes that determine size and body type of the bird. You have to get the genes and pieces of DNA concentrated in the bird to increase size. That means you will have to do sibling crosses after you out cross with a New Hampshire. From the sibling crosses, select for size and coloration and continue to cross best color and largest size with best color and largest size. Over time you will concentrate the genes and produce a larger bird.


I have made dark cornish crosses and most of the offspring will have the body type of the cornish. I did not do sibling crosses because the cross was a terminal cross used for testing purposes. I did not raise the males to adult size because I did not need the males.

This will give you an idea of the body type. This is a young male.

The bird below is another bird I have produced. He is not a cornish hybrid.

He is very compact and smaller than I would like but his sons are much bigger ( taller). He does not look heavy but he is heavier than my other roosters. I have not weighed him so I can not tell you his size. If I can catch him and his son today, I will post their size. I may also take and post a pic of his son. I am going to cross him to his daughters and also do sibling crosses. I am using one of his sons to cross with my rhode island silver (columbian) to increase their size.



Broodiness and egg laying ability can be selected for as you breed. You will have to keep good records and cross specific birds that excel at a trait.

What you want to do would be along term project. I would suggest just working on one thing- the size project would be big enough.

Tim