blrw question

[georgialee]

I have a splash pullet and 3 dark blue cockerels. I'm assuming (since I know nothing of genetics) that it will make no difference in genetics if I breed the very dark blue or the lighter dark blue... i'll still end up with splash, blue and black chicks, correct? So in reality to get to the 'correct' blue I should keep the lightest dark blue cockerel?

OR should I keep the cockerel with the best conformation try to get a show quality black to breed back to the mom? The pullet is GORGEOUS by the way. She's only 12 weeks but showing a lot of potential. I got her from Brian (B. Saffles Farms on here) and I highly recommend his birds!

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Blue x Splash = 50% blue, 50% Splash.
Blue x Blue = 50% blue, 25% black, 25% Splash

Splash Parents CAN NOT produce black ofspring.

All of your blues (light or dark) should produce the same percentages.

I would worry more about confirmation than shade of blue (as long as it IS blue), but that is just me.

 

[georgialee]

oops. okay that makes sense. Thanks, lol! So I guess just pick the cockerel with the best conformation to breed to the pullet? When do people usually decide this (how many weeks)?

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

Quote:
I would pick the the roo with the best color and shape. The color blue you are looking for is the same color as a blue Wyandotte.

To be honest, the blue is the easy part. You need to cull more for shape and the mohogany red. The deeper the better as far as the red. If you want to darken up your blue, breed a black roo to a blue hen for one gereration and that should do the trick. If you breed black to splash too much you don't get the correct color of blue. Here are some pictures from our early spring hatch.....These birds are about 3 - 4 months old.

Here is a BLRW pictured with a white wyandotte....when culling for shape notice there isn't much of a back to both hens. You are looking for a V shape. The tail rise is great on both the hens. You also want a nice big head and a very wide body.

 

[georgialee]

Beautiful! My pullet is a gorgeous red color. I can't tell on the cockerels yet - some of the roos look like they have gold-red saddle feathers. Only time will tell. Thanks for the info!

 

[rabbithaus]

Stupid question alert!!

What do you call the red and white bird that you breed to a blue to get blrw? On various websites I've seen that pattern called both 'splash' and 'red laced'.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

are you talking about a splash? The BLRW come in Blue, black, and splash.

 

[rabbithaus]

Yes, I think splash is what I am thinking of. I went to your site-the birds are lovely!!