Anybody setting today 9-20-09? Or close to it? Newbie Hatcher here!

[walkswithdog]

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Well *I* thought you explained it well.

I've got the barest of handles on cat coat genetics and get how blue can be related to black (in cats blue is dilute black).

So splash isn't just a color, it's the pattern of the darker color over a *very* dilute (to white) base? It can occur on blue birds, and rarely in some other colors but that is the idea.
(And while not really a merle or brindle, splash is still a random pattern as opposed to lacing?)

Okay, I'll stop asking questions ...tonight.
Sweet dreams, all!

Right splash is a random pattern, unlike the mille fleur or mottled or partridge or lacing.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

I have a very low level question related to the blue color discussion. I understand the basics of BBS genestics, I can even do the punnet squares to calculate the percentages.

But I don't know the answer to this:
At the Tennessee Valley Fair a few weeks ago, I saw blue, black and splash Langshans. Beautiful birds and of course now I want some, lol. When I looked through the hatchery catalogs that I have, I only saw white and black langshans. If I were to purchase some of each, would I get blue by crossing a black and a white? I know they would be hatchery quality and I'm not even sure thats a route I would want to go, but I am still curious.

 

[walkswithdog]

In general white is an unknowable genotype - white is a masking gene. So no, you could not reliably get any color and might get something awful. Especially from hatchery stock where they WILL mix in other stock to increase production of eggs - ugh.

For Blue Langshans or Good Blacks - rodriguezpoultry will have references for eggs. If I had the room I'd kill for some of her birds omg.

Better to ship and hatch than do frustrating generation after generation of surprise color hatchery quality birds.

 

[faerielady]

Tonight the 'bator goes into lockdown for the pyncheon and SL cochin eggs. I'll candle before I officially close the lid. My first batch... I had temp issues with the 'bator, so I don't really expect a good hatch. We'll see how it goes... they are actually due Saturday when I have to work.

 

[faerielady]

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This is why I started hitting people up and purchasing eggs instead of buying from a hatchery. Except for the 3 I have from a 25 pack of rainbow pullets. However, those 3 aren't going to be used for breeding... they are going to be cooped separately, and be dedicated layers.

 

[OutInTheStiks]

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Thanks for the response. I assumed it wouldn't work and that is not a route I would be likely to take anyway, but I was still curious.

I really liked the look of the Langshans and the blue genetics are fascinating to me, so they may be a breed I add when I get some extra coop space.

 

[walkswithdog]

Well, I DIDN'T like Langshans before I saw and talked to Rodriguezpoultry about her birds. Lanshans at shows may be large but they're often, flighty, contrary, narrow and loud/combative animals. Watching those guys try to crate up those birds after the TN fairs is enlightening. Ugh.

But Rodriguez has got some great gentle giants of the breed, lovely clean lined broad proper birds. Birds to make even ME consider Langshans. And that has to be some sort of crime.

I already have too many breeds as it is, but I

them all.

 

[shelleyd2008]

I'm so mad at my son right now, I could just wring his neck!! I went into the 'hatching' room to feed the baby chicks, and one of my bins' lights was off. I figured it was the bulb, but of course it wasn't. Someone (for sure my 4 y/o darling unplugged it!! What's worse is that the hatching incubator is on the same extension cord!! The hatcher was at 81*, when I just last night moved my d'uccles eggs to it. Why couldn't he have done that when I was waiting for it to get stabilized? Why does he always have to unplug it when there are eggs in there? The last time he did this, I had eggs in there that had already pipped. Luckily they were from my birds, and far enough along, that they still hatched.

I really hope he didn't kill my eggs

 

[walkswithdog]

Oh Shelley! Dam I'm so sorry.

I hope they bounce back... my dogs unplug my stuff accidentally now and then, that's how I got my 134 temp spike when one unplugged the fans for the bator...

As a suggestion they make a plate you can fix to a wall plug that screws on and holds the plug in and it can't be undone accidentally, saw one once. I was considering it myself.

You have my best wishes.

 

[faerielady]

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I can recommend these... bought some at a hardware store. Use them because big dogs have big sweeping tails when they wag... and my St. Bernard managed to unplug several plugs from different outlets around the house (including my stove once!). So I use them to keep certain plugs in their rightful sockets.

Of course, there IS one over the bator plug. Now... as long as I don't lose power, we should be good. LOL