Blue mottled orpingtons

[karint]

I hatched eggs from blue littles orpingtons and am trying to decide which roosters to keep. Only one is blue mottled the other roosters seem to be splash. The breeder said they are splash mottled. So my question is would you keep one of the splash mottled roosters too or instead. If so which one?

 

[Slothinc]

I personally would try to pick the boy with the best conformation, and best personality. But if you want to focus on color too, it depends on what color chicks you are hoping to get from your flock. What color are your hens? If you want 100% blue mottled chicks, you can breed a splash mottled boy to black mottled hens and get all blue mottled babies. But if you want an assortment of chick colors, you could keep a combination of blue black and splash birds.

 

[karint]

I personally would try to pick the boy with the best conformation, and best personality. But if you want to focus on color too, it depends on what color chicks you are hoping to get from your flock. What color are your hens? If you want 100% blue mottled chicks, you can breed a splash mottled boy to black mottled hens and get all blue mottled babies. But if you want an assortment of chick colors, you could keep a combination of blue black and splash birds.

I would like blue mottled chicks. They were shipped eggs and only one hen. The rest were roosters. So it will be a slow process.

I’m sure the hens is blue mottled so I’m guessing my best chance is keeping the blue mottled rooster then. All the roosters are so nice. I’m very impressed with this breed

 

[Slothinc]

I would like blue mottled chicks. They were shipped eggs and only one hen. The rest were roosters. So it will be a slow process.

I’m sure the hens is blue mottled so I’m guessing my best chance is keeping the blue mottled rooster then. All the roosters are so nice. I’m very impressed with this breed

If the hen is blue mottled, breeding her to the blue mottled roo would yield approx 1/4 black mottled, 1/2 blue mottled and 1/4 splash mottled. If the hen is bred to a splash mottled boy, then the chicks would be 1/2 blue mottled and 1/2 splash mottled. So it is going to come down to your personal preference.

Since you only have one hen, you will need to get more girls even if you only keep one boy. If you don’t get more girls, she will most likely be overbred. I would try to shoot for a ratio of at least 6 hens to 1 roo. More hens is even better.

 

[karint]

If the hen is blue mottled, breeding her to the blue mottled roo would yield approx 1/4 black mottled, 1/2 blue mottled and 1/4 splash mottled. If the hen is bred to a splash mottled boy, then the chicks would be 1/2 blue mottled and 1/2 splash mottled. So it is going to come down to your personal preference.

Since you only have one hen, you will need to get more girls even if you only keep one boy. If you don’t get more girls, she will most likely be overbred. I would try to shoot for a ratio of at least 6 hens to 1 roo. More hens is even better.

Thanks that’s so helpful. I got more eggs shipped so we will see. I do have a back up plan though my colourful egg layers will go with her if I don’t get more hens.