Blue Hen Breeds and Possibilities.

[bluehencraze]

Hi everyone, so a year or so ago I hatched out 2 blue hens that came from The University of Delaware in my high school biology class as a senior. I was able to keep the 2 blue hens and lucked into one being a rooster and one a hen. Both are the black variety but I am dying to get the other 2 varieties (white and steel blue). Does anyone know what the genetic possibilities of 2 black variety blue hens to breed any of the other 2 varieties is? If anyone knows I would love to hear back.

 

[Debbi]

You are referring to the Andalusion Blue formula, as I call it. Goes like this:

Blue x Blue = 50% blue, 25% black, and 25% splash

Splash x Splash = 100% splash

Blue x Splash = 50% blue, 50% splash

Splash x Black = 100% blue

Blue x Black - 50% blue, 50% black

Black x Black = 100% black

The white steely blue you are referring to is called "Splash" or "Dirty White" (in France). Hope this is what you were looking for?

 

[bluehencraze]

Thankyou! it's a little upsetting now knowing that i won't be able to hatch out anything besides the black variety. I'm a student at the University of Delaware and i have spoken to a poultry professor that told me he would give me hens of the steel blue variety if they hatch any out next spring

 

[Debbi]

If you have two Blue birds, you will get Blue, Black, and Splash. That said, if you only hatch a small number, the odds are you may not get all of those colors in the clutch.

I think you are confused, you keep saying they are Blue from the Black variety? You are either Blue or you aren't. Blue is a dilute of Black. Splash is a dilute of Blue. Some Blues will come out so dark that they appear to be Black. On these birds, look under the feathers at the underdown, and if they are black, the down will be black. If they are blue, the down will be a greyish color. Either that, or breed the dark Blue bird to a Black. If you get Blues, then you now know the bird is dark Blue, not Black. Again, the color odds may not show in your favor with small hatches. Try hatching at least 2 dozen eggs, more if possible, to get more of the percentages falling in your favor.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If you have two Blue birds, you will get Blue, Black, and Splash. That said, if you only hatch a small number, the odds are you may not get all of those colors in the clutch.

I think you are confused, you keep saying they are Blue from the Black variety? You are either Blue or you aren't. Blue is a dilute of Black. Splash is a dilute of Blue. Some Blues will come out so dark that they appear to be Black. On these birds, look under the feathers at the underdown, and if they are black, the down will be black. If they are blue, the down will be a greyish color. Either that, or breed the dark Blue bird to a Black. If you get Blues, then you now know the bird is dark Blue, not Black. Again, the color odds may not show in your favor with small hatches. Try hatching at least 2 dozen eggs, more if possible, to get more of the percentages falling in your favor.

I believe the breed name is "Delaware Blue Hen" or "Blue Hens of Delaware" (or something close to that). Kind of like all showgirls are not girls, all of these aren't hens, and they are not all blue. Pretty sure that the steel blue being referred to is blue, based upon the context of the post, and I assume that white is actually splash.

If so, breeding the blacks to the steel blue will give a mix of black and blue offspring..