Blue Black Splash Ameraucanas - Which roo would you keep?

[hipeatall]

I ordered BBS Large Fowl Ameraucana chicks from Paul and Angela Smith earlier this year. They are growing out and are just gorgeous birds. I will be keeping all of the pullets (2 blue, 2 splash and 1 black). My dilemma is which cockerel to keep. I only have the space to keep one. I have blues, blacks and splashes to chose from... and they are all growing out beautifully, of course!

I did my chickie color math and found the following -
... Splash Roo = 3 Splash & 2 Blue offspring
... Blue Roo = 3 Blue, 1 Black, 1 Splash
... Black Roo = 3 Blue & 2 Black offspring

Soooo... I am kindof hoping some feedback from my chicken loving community will help me make a choice.
If you have a minute... I'd love to hear from you as to which one you would keep... and why...

Thank you!!!

 

[pips&peeps]

 

[draye]

pips&peeps :

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X 2​

 

[hipeatall]

What I really was interested in was feedback on this based on which of these 3 colors people like... and why...

Examples, I know that splash isn't accepted, but, I just LOVE the variations and look of Splash Ameraucanas - or - Blacks do better at shows so keep those... etc

They are scraggly teens right now. I plan to grow them out quite a bit before making a decision.

 

[speckledhen]

Personally, if the black cockerel has no red/gold/silver leakage, I'd keep a black with good green sheen. Then, when you breed him with the splash girls, you get 100% blues from them, when you breed him with blues, you get blacks and blues and naturally, when you breed with black, you get black. I had a black Ameraucana rooster and he was stunning, even with some gold leakage. He just glowed in the sunshine.

 

[pips&peeps]

Quote:
People like all three colors. If you keep a black you will not get any more splash. If you keep a splash you will not get any more black. So the option if you want all three colors is to keep a blue.

However, in my opinion the resulting blue offspring from blue to blue matings vary so much; they throw alot of 'junk' birds in terms of good blue color in my opinion.

 

[Dipsy Doodle Doo]

Hi! If you only keep the black rooster, you won't hatch any splash chicks. If you keep only the splash roo, you won't hatch any black chicks. *If* it were me I'd keep a blue so I could hatch all three color chicks --- assuming they are all equal in quality (who am I kidding, if it were me, I'd keep all three colors, hahaha).
Good luck!

Lisa

 

[TinyChickenLady]

pips&peeps :

Quote:
People like all three colors. If you keep a black you will not get any more blue. If you keep a splash you will not get any more black. So the option if you want all three colors is to keep a blue.

However, in my opinion the resulting blue offspring from blue to blue matings vary so much; they throw alot of 'junk' birds in terms of good blue color in my opinion.

I love a splash bird in any breed but pips&peeps is right. A blue would give you all colors of offspring so I'd go with blue

 

[hipeatall]

This is awesome you guys. I really appreciate it! Your time, opinions and advice is most welcome!

 

[wolftracks]

pips&peeps :

Quote:
People like all three colors. If you keep a black you will not get any more blue. If you keep a splash you will not get any more black. So the option if you want all three colors is to keep a blue.

However, in my opinion the resulting blue offspring from blue to blue matings vary so much; they throw alot of 'junk' birds in terms of good blue color in my opinion.

So you would not use the blue.

I love blues, but I respect your opinion on these birds. What do you mean by junk. What exactly would happen with this breeding?



I think you need some lavs! I have a pretty lav from Jean and can't wait till she starts laying. I also have blue, bbs, and black. Lots my silvers which breaks my heart. Blues I have a soft spot for, but I'm interesting in this thread to help me decide better down the line as to what to do. The main AM thead has gotten to big to read through and remember what I started looking for. I do have blue and black roos and want more blues. My blue is from a bbs hatch.​