Ayam Cemani ?

[Blue Eager]

I have 6 Cemani chicks all of which are a little over 2 weeks old. I am trying to decide which of these to keep for breeding stock. Obviously I am a long way off but I am trying to decide at this early stage which of these exhibits the best traits. So far 3 are excellent; exterior features/colors are true to this breed including beaks, toes & no signs of color bleed. The other 3 also have excellent exterior features/colors but 2 of their interior mouths are tan & the other is pink.

My question is; will the tan color darken with age?

Edit...Or perhaps a better question might be; should I breed all of these & keep hoping the all black will evolve from both the tan & pink as well?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Rare Bird Collector]

I breed Ayams to. I paid 200 a piece from a breeder to ensure they were show quality. If any part of the bird isn't black it's considered pet quality and I wouldn't breed.

 

[Blue Eager]

I breed Ayams to. I paid 200 a piece from a breeder to ensure they were show quality. If any part of the bird isn't black it's considered pet quality and I wouldn't breed.

Is the $200 for eggs, chicks, or pullets? In addition, if you paid this amount for eggs, what assurances did the seller make so that each chick that hatched would be all black?

 

[Rare Bird Collector]

Is the $200 for eggs, chicks, or pullets? In addition, if you paid this amount for eggs, what assurances did the seller make so that each chick that hatched would be all black?

I bought 6 total and they were about 3 months old, 4 pullets and and 2 roos for a total of 1k. I paid 100 a roo. She had about 30 birds from day old to 3 months. Maybe she had so manny because I'm 1 of the few chicken crazies that will pay that for chickens lol. I checked them good before buying. But still 1 of my roos got a few goldish hair like feathers round his neck so I don't breed him. He turned out to be an expensive lawn ornament lol. So far so good breeding them but from time to time they hatch with non black tounges and beaks and I sell them as pet quality much cheaper. Shoot for all black to breed the best quality.

 

[Blue Eager]

Thank you for that information Rare Bird Collector.

My intentions are to select the best roo & breed him to all the pullets when of age. I say this because it is my belief that even though not all the pullets may have ideal traits at this time, there are still without question, the excellent traits buried inside each one (if the parents are from a reputable seller). I am sure this is the case with the seller you purchased your Cemanis from. This is why you spent time selecting your future breeding stock. Even though not all were perfect they were certainly the off spring of selective breeding.

I have one roo & possibly two with excellent traits true to the breed. I will also be purchasing an additional 7 from the same seller to make my selection from as well. His breeding pair are direct decedents from GFF.

 

[B&B FarmsSc]

Id tend to side with RBC...as with a breeding programs...I think its best to cull and recessive or inferior features....eliminates issues later on down the line

 

[Blue Eager]

Thank you B&B FarmsSc. Point well taken.

Here is a link with photo's of my 6 Cemanis, from their first week to their 3rd week. They are 3rd generation chicks from a breeding pair purchased from GFF. Currently, at least 4 of the 6 have excellent traits true to their breed. As mentioned before, I will be purchasing an addtional 7 of the same age at the end of this month so this should give me some excellent stock to begin my breeding program with.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...mani-breeders-club-open-forum.862688/page-272

 

[HuskerHens18]

I wouldn't cull the ones who's aren't show quality, now I'm no breeder, but I like pet quality birds.

Pet quality is cheaper, where I can't afford a 200$ chicken, perhaps I would consider buying a pet quality bird for cheaper.

Then you can still sell show quality for the price they're worth, while still making a little money on the ones who didn't turn out like you want. If you cull, you just made 0$.

This is purely my opinion though, I'm not a breeder so I don't know the work, time, and money that goes into breeding these birds. I wish you good luck!!

 

[Fishkeeper]

"Cull" can mean two things. It can either mean killing the animal, the more common meaning, or simply removing it from your breeding stock. It's technically culling if you take out the pet-quality ones and put them in a separate pen from your show-quality breeding stock.

 

[HuskerHens18]

"Cull" can mean two things. It can either mean killing the animal, the more common meaning, or simply removing it from your breeding stock. It's technically culling if you take out the pet-quality ones and put them in a separate pen from your show-quality breeding stock.

I did not know that. I am learning things Thank you for clearing that up!