BlueTheBrahma’s thread!

[wrathsfarm]

Ronnie (Raven)

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

I've been noticing some darkness in my pullets combs down low towards the beak. I see your one BC has it also. Do you have any insight on this? I don't remember seeing before but all of a sudden I have a few and have been wondering about it, if it means anything or just normal.

Chanel had it very, very subtly when young, the black coppers didn’t. It was only a few speckles on the comb. Joannie had it this time, the first obvious one. And then these two (I think it’s both) have it, even darker than Joan but less in the eyes than her. It’s proper grey this time.

I assume it’s similar to grey keg or beak shading, but I don’t know to be honest. I feel maybe chooks man mentioned it once, maybe. Might be worth asking him.

Edit: Esme, Chanel’s first daughter, a blue copper, also had grey spots around the base of her comb and beak. I feel like it might be the blue genotype diluting beaks that would be dark.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Good news: I caught the escapee this morning (with help), so she’s now safe and sound with the rest.

I’m naming her Toad, after Mr Toad in the Wind in the Willows, my favourite book as a child (and probably still now!). Toad escapes prison and goes on all sorts of adventures, so I think the name is fitting.

This also makes a theme with Mole. So I’m naming the other two Ratty and Badger. The Coppers still need naming…

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Toad (back) and Ozzy (front)

Toad
From pictures of the parent stock, I think these cuckoos have quite high tails but very small and tidy ones. The smaller tails are welcome, since they make squirrel tail less awful anyway. Hopefully the other lines can lower the tail.

 

[2ndTink]

Very exciting, congrats on the new pullets. And huge relief you caught Toad!

 

[Pumperkinz]

Do you know about the barring/cuckoo that much lol.

I have a mystery bird I hatched out from my blue black splashes.
It's almost perfect barring which suspects me not a cuckoo and i'm almost 100% on it being a rooster lol.

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Do you know about the barring/cuckoo that much lol.

I have a mystery bird I hatched out from my blue black splashes.
It's almost perfect barring which suspects me not a cuckoo and i'm almost 100% on it being a rooster lol.
View attachment 4183414
View attachment 4183413

The blue phenotype messes up the cuckoo pattern. That’s going on here. I’m guessing the genotype is E/E^R, S/s+, Bl/bl, B/b. Probably a blue copper cross dark cuckoo

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Very exciting, congrats on the new pullets. And huge relief you caught Toad!

I swear she’s plotting her next escape…

 

[BlueTheBrahma]

Do you know about the barring/cuckoo that much lol.

I have a mystery bird I hatched out from my blue black splashes.
It's almost perfect barring which suspects me not a cuckoo and i'm almost 100% on it being a rooster lol.
View attachment 4183414
View attachment 4183413

If you cross this guy to back copper hens, you will get Golden cuckoos. I am hoping to develop this variety myself by crossing the cuckoos and coppers.

 

[Pumperkinz]

Ty!

More questions

The one closest to me is a golden cuckoo (hen) x BCM (roo).

The one in the back is a "golden" but their mom is more grey w/ no gold hackling. The barring is throwing me off too, and my wife thinks something is wrong w/ the moms or they aren't true cuckoo. I'll have to cross post the mom's of the two I have cause I also think they are roosters since the barring gene should follow males.

Both moms are dark brown egg layers from what I can tell and feathered feet + light colored shanks.