- Mar 21, 2009
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He definitely looks like a Runner mix to me or just a production quality Runner. As far as the color and genetics, I definitely agree with Kansas Kid and Omni Silkies. Most of the other crosses mentioned would be very improbable unless he is a second (or beyond) generation mix (meaning his parents were mixes too). He wouldn't be a mix from something that has Buff or Brown dilution (Khaki Campbells, Buffs, several colors of Runners, etc...) because those genes are sex-linked and don't show in the first generation. He also is clearly the wild-type pattern and those breeds already mentioned are dusky based. Likewise, Welsh Harlequins are dusky based and the harlequin genes are recessive so they don't show in the first generation either.
My guess is that he could be a Pastel or Blue Trout (color wise), as he obviously has Blue dilution and both colors can be very similar in the drakes. I would normally guess Pastel though because of two things- like harlequin phase, light phase doesn't show in the first generation and also light phase typically results in an extended claret, not a reduced one (Blue Trouts are light phase). Pastels though require that both parents carry Blue dilution, so I am not so sure. If one parent didn't carry Blue, he would just be a very lightly colored Blue Fawn- unusual, but not impossible.
All that said, this really begins to limit what the cross could have been if he is a first generation cross. The most obvious culprits for one parent would be Mallard, Rouen, or even Gray Runner (if he is Blue Fawn). The other parent is more of a puzzle. The obvious answer would be a Saxony. Several different rare Runner colors could give his color though. Most of the breeds that could throw a mix of his color are not very common, but people do seem to find some rare breeds fairly regularly. If he is a second generation mix, he could be from several different breeds. Still though, I think it is doubtful he has any recent dusky based breeds in his background (Campbells, Buff, Welsh Harlequins, F & W Runners, Penciled Runners, etc..just to name a few) or any extended black based breeds since the extended black is dominant (Swedish, Cayuga, Black and Blue Runners, etc...).
As I said, this narrows the field of possible culprits quite a lot. I would probably call him a pet quality Pastel Runner. You lucked out to find such a gorgeous bird of a rare color!
My guess is that he could be a Pastel or Blue Trout (color wise), as he obviously has Blue dilution and both colors can be very similar in the drakes. I would normally guess Pastel though because of two things- like harlequin phase, light phase doesn't show in the first generation and also light phase typically results in an extended claret, not a reduced one (Blue Trouts are light phase). Pastels though require that both parents carry Blue dilution, so I am not so sure. If one parent didn't carry Blue, he would just be a very lightly colored Blue Fawn- unusual, but not impossible.
All that said, this really begins to limit what the cross could have been if he is a first generation cross. The most obvious culprits for one parent would be Mallard, Rouen, or even Gray Runner (if he is Blue Fawn). The other parent is more of a puzzle. The obvious answer would be a Saxony. Several different rare Runner colors could give his color though. Most of the breeds that could throw a mix of his color are not very common, but people do seem to find some rare breeds fairly regularly. If he is a second generation mix, he could be from several different breeds. Still though, I think it is doubtful he has any recent dusky based breeds in his background (Campbells, Buff, Welsh Harlequins, F & W Runners, Penciled Runners, etc..just to name a few) or any extended black based breeds since the extended black is dominant (Swedish, Cayuga, Black and Blue Runners, etc...).
As I said, this narrows the field of possible culprits quite a lot. I would probably call him a pet quality Pastel Runner. You lucked out to find such a gorgeous bird of a rare color!
