Blue/red Orps?? Genetics & possible projects?

[tgrlily]

I got some BBS Orp chicks in the spring that are feathering out with some strange colors. They looked blue & black as chicks & the breeder had the parents separated so we think this is a genetic throwback issue. She's been seeing similar issues at home with no other possible explanation. I'm not upset about it... they are really cool looking! She has offered to buy them back from me, but I think this may be an inspiration for a project.

Sorry this is so blurry... I'll take better pics tomorrow. He has the most red.

OK genetics experts.... what do you think is in the background to make these chickens?

I'm assuming that it won't breed true -- please correct me if I'm wrong. But could I use them to breed to a BLRW to work on a BLR Orp?

Any other suggestions? I'd like to find a useful purpose for them!

ETA -- BBS means Blue, Black Splash or Andalusian Blue.

 

[blackdotte]

What in heck is BBS?????
What were the parents?

 

[stuckinthecity]

I would love a solid red orpington! To cross breed with RIRs.

and I dont know what BBS is either. lol

as for your rooster- he is beautiful!

 

[rnoyster]

BBS = Blue, Black, Splash

 

[tgrlily]

Quote:
BBS is blue, black splash. The parents were BBS Orpingtons. Blue & black roos over blue, black & splash hens.

 

[Henk69]

He looks like a cross between buff and blue.
What you see is a columbian-like restrictor kicking in.

I don't get why they use so much abbreviations on this board...

 

[tgrlily]

What would happen if I paired him with a blue laced red Wyandotte?

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

Quote:
Yes, and completely agree about the abbreviations...

 

[stuckinthecity]

most of the time I have NO clue what people are saying. lol

 

[tadkerson]

Quote:
The bird appears to be columbian restricted (as Henk said) and birchen. I say birchen because his wing bay appears to be blue. He is carrying melanotic- he has black in his hackles. He does not carry the pattern gene.

Birds that are single laced carry the columbian gene, the brown gene, the melanotic gene, the gold gene and the pattern gene. (two copies of each gene)

The male most likely also carries brown at the E locus along with the birchen.

You can use him to breed for blue laced red. He is missing the pattern gene so not all the offspring will be homozygous for the pattern gene.

Find some good pictures of blue laced red chicks- chick down will tell you if you are breeding toward the blue laced red phenotype. You do not want solid colored chicks. The chick down should be reddish blue brown on the back up onto the neck and red/brown on the face with some black markings on the face. Belly should tend to be a silver to gray /blue color. The down varies among chicks but most will be very much similar in color.

Tim