Barnevelder breeders lets work together and improve the breed

[malndobe]

You probably won't see good lacing on the splash. The lacing doesn't come through very well on the double dilutes. It's why it's difficult to use them for breeding. The blue may get better, but it looks like she's single laced, rather than double. Not sure if that will get better.

Edited: actually, it looks like the blue could be a cockerel. In that case, you won't see the double lacing like on a hen. It's typical for their lacing to look very dirty at this age. You'll just have to grow him out and see what happens.

I've been thinking cockerel for awhile, got a little happy when you said "she" but I think she is a he

 

[tls_ranch]

You probably won't see good lacing on the splash. The lacing doesn't come through very well on the double dilutes. It's why it's difficult to use them for breeding. The blue may get better, but it looks like she's single laced, rather than double. Not sure if that will get better.

Thanks.  I love the splash color, have a number of splash BLRW.  I was hoping to get splash double laced.  These are my first Barnvelders.  Are single laced birds even in the SOP?  I'm not planning to start breeding them, except maybe to maintain a few in my flock, I just thought they were always double laced. 

Splash BLRW probably have other genes that help to " force" the blue gene to conform to clean single lacing. Barnevelders are only accepted in the APA in the double laced pattern ( black laced, red/ gold base) There are some projects overseas where they are making " buff double laced" barnevelders that have better double lacing.

Trisha

 

[bonnylass79]

Thanks.  I love the splash color, have a number of splash BLRW.  I was hoping to get splash double laced.  These are my first Barnvelders.  Are single laced birds even in the SOP?  I'm not planning to start breeding them, except maybe to maintain a few in my flock, I just thought they were always double laced. 

Single laced is not in the SOP, but it does show up in breeding when birds do not have both the penciling and partridge genes.

However, if it's a cockerel, you won't really see the double lacing. The key instead is to make sure he's marked correctly, not too much red (an issue in blues), and has good type.

 

[bonnylass79]

Bonnylass79 you beat me to it we must of been typing at the same time

Trisha

I've learned most of what I know from you.

 

[bonnylass79]

I've been thinking cockerel for awhile, got a little happy when you said "she" but I think she is a he

LOL, yeah, I tend to end up with too many roos too.

I'm on my phone and glanced at the photo too quickly the first time. Then after I replied I went back and realized he had a little comb and wattle and that the markings were closer to that of a cockerel.

 

[Jomini]

I agree with you that the one up front is a boy but I can't see the one in back well enough to know what it is. Can you get a better picture of that one? My chicks tend to be a bit skittish too...I think because I raise them very "hands off". Once they get a little bit bigger mine have gotten more friendly though.

 

[tls_ranch]

I've been thinking of another topic to talk about!

I've been thinking about how to decide who stays and who goes. I have a lot of young males and would like to start thinning the flock. At what age should we start to make this kind of decision and what do we look for?

I have some ideas.  For instance, I'd like to pick my next cockerel to have a deeper keel, or chest. I feel my current cock is a little flat chested. Will I be able to tell already at seven weeks old or should I wait...and how long, to decide?

I am hatching chicks almost every week but the hens have really slacked off in laying the last couple of weeks so I will have very few hatching next month.  I hate to sell one of the boys I should keep and I know this is a dilemma for many breeders.  How and when do you decide?

This would be good information for helping new breeders like myself make good decisions.

Thanks,

DD 

I sorted through my cockerels and pullets today. Wormed them and re- banded them. While I did this, I evaluated them for size, production qualities and pattern. I took some pictures of a few of the cockerels ( about 5 weeks and 12 weeks old) so I can show what I look for in pattern etc. I will try to post the pics later

If you hatch in large numbers, it is easier to make decisions on which to keep. You can be much more critical. If you only have a few, then it is best to grow out the juveniles for as long as possible before making selections.

I start selecting cockerels at 4- 5 weeks for size, basic pattern, head/ comb qualities and good body/ production traits. Pullets I grow out longer before I make any decisions.

Trisha

 

[tls_ranch]

I agree with you that the one up front is a boy but I can't see the one in back well enough to know what it is. Can you get a better picture of that one? My chicks tend to be a bit skittish too...I think because I raise them very "hands off". Once they get a little bit bigger mine have gotten more friendly though.

Girl on left, boy on right.

 

[tls_ranch]

Cockerels do not show a lot of double lacing like females, but they do show some double laced pattern especially on their wings and while still young. Here is a picture of a 4-5 week old blue cockerel. I like how he is starting to show decent pattern on his wings. The black cockerels will show even a cleaner / better defined pattern than this blue cockerel has.

Here is a picture of a 12 week old blue cockerel that shows pretty good pattern for a blue. Each feather has a rich red center with a the blue edging/ lacing being pretty complete and clearly marked. Again, blacks can be even better marked.

Nice head on a 4-5 week old cockerel. Round and wide. Could have one more point to his comb though.

Trisha

 

[tls_ranch]

Another picture of the wing pattern of a 12 week old blue cockerel.