Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[mschlumb]

In regards to crossing rocks to andalusians. If it was me, and depending on if i had enough birds to do this with, which really wouldnt have to be very many,I would split the line into two. In line one, you could just breed the black rocks to blue rocks and hopefully improve lacing that way, and just continue to linebreed those, while working on type, color ect. Who knows, maybe you'll find this will be enough to improve them.
In line two, take a few blue rocks to outcross to Andalusian, if nothing more than to experiment just to see what happens. This way you still have some pure rocks if the Andalusian cross doesn't work out. And if it does then great, now you have new unique line of Blue Plymouth Rocks. Eventually you could cross the AndalusianXRocks back to the pure Rocks.
I would always maintain some pure rocks with no Andalusian influence so you always have something to improve your type and you don't end up with all crossbloods. Don't put all of your eggs in one basket so to speak.

As for skin color, which is related to shank color, the white is dominate so once all white skinned(blue shanked) birds have been culled out you won't have any problems with slate shanks. With enough offspring to pick from, that can eliminated in one generation. The next step of reducing the pigment in the dermal layers of the scales will be harder and you will still end up with dark shanked birds, however the skin color will be right. its just then a matter of selection to lighter (more yellow) shanks.

Just my opininion.
Also, nice to see someone out there working with Blue Rock largefowl

 

[mschlumb]

The Buttercup I posted earlier was Res Ch Med at the show I went to this past weekend, and the Ch Med was a Dark Brown Leghorn.

Always nice to see the Brown Leghorns win!!! and a nice buttercup too!

 

[catdaddyfro]

In regards to crossing rocks to andalusians. If it was me, I would split the lline into two. In line one you could just breed the black rocks to blue rocks and hopefully improve lacing that way, and just continue to linebreed those, while working on type, color ect. Then you take a few blue rocks to outcross to Andalusian, if nothing more than to experiment just see what happens. This way you still have some pure rocks if the Andalusian cross doesn't work out. And if it does then great. Eventually you could cross the AndalusianXRocks back to the pure Rocks. I would always maintain some pure rocks with no Andalusian influence so always have something to improve your type and you don't end up with all crossbloods.

As for skin color, which is related to shank color, the white is dominate so once all white skinned(blue shanked) birds have been culled out you won't have any problems with slate shanks. With enough offspring to pick from, that can eliminated in one generation. The next step of reducing the pigment in the dermal layers of the scales will be harder and you will still end up with dark shanked birds, however the skin color will be right. its just then a matter of selection to lighter (more yellow) shanks.

Black rocks are easy enough to come by or to make IMO to have to resolve to introducing Andalusion(breed) blood into a Plymouth Rock family. Andalusia blue is a color not a breed the way I see it. (just thinking out-loud here) LOL

 

[Lacy Blues]

In regards to crossing rocks to andalusians. If it was me, I would split the lline into two. In line one you could just breed the black rocks to blue rocks and hopefully improve lacing that way, and just continue to linebreed those, while working on type, color ect. Then you take a few blue rocks to outcross to Andalusian, if nothing more than to experiment just see what happens. This way you still have some pure rocks if the Andalusian cross doesn't work out. And if it does then great. Eventually you could cross the AndalusianXRocks back to the pure Rocks. I would always maintain some pure rocks with no Andalusian influence so always have something to improve your type and you don't end up with all crossbloods.

As for skin color, which is related to shank color, the white is dominate so once all white skinned(blue shanked) birds have been culled out you won't have any problems with slate shanks. With enough offspring to pick from, that can eliminated in one generation. The next step of reducing the pigment in the dermal layers of the scales will be harder and you will still end up with dark shanked birds, however the skin color will be right. its just then a matter of selection to lighter (more yellow) shanks.

I had some black/blue leghorn bantams from a breeder on the west coast. The leghorn has yellow legs and these blue birds that I got from him had yellow-ish legs with dark spots (like you mentioned about breeding out the pigment in dermal layers) I don't know how he did with them in shows but I've never seen (in my limited exposure to the world of show poultry) a blue bird with yellow legs that had lacing that was very impressive. I'm not saying it can't be done, I just wonder HOW if you're breeding the darkness out of them.

I too like to see something on Champion Row besides a white leghorn. They are quite striking but I've never seen a dark brown leghorn in person except a bantam at one show. Boy was he pretty!

 

[Lacy Blues]

Black rocks are easy enough to come by or to make IMO to have to resolve to introducing Andalusion(breed) blood into a Plymouth Rock family. Andalusia blue is a color not a breed the way I see it. (just thinking out-loud here) LOL

"Andalusia blue" IS just a color.

 

[Chloe77]

I have Barred Plymouth Rocks. Heritage, I think, and I very nice breed, in general.


This is my rooster. His name is Mr. Man. He's about 6-7 months old, and weighs roughly 8 pounds. He's still growing, and I have hopes for him as a show bird.















And by the way, that white mark on his comb in the above pic is NOT a split comb etc. It's a white scratch from a hen. Trust me, I handle this bird every day.

Here's my stud hen. I'm going to breed these birds, btw.





Her name is Cassandra. I'm 15, and next year, at 4h, I'm going to show her. Good markings, for a feed store bird. And that green stuff on her breast is PAINT. It's not mold, or god forbid, a split breast.

And one more pic of Mr. Man, because he's so awesome.

 

[saladin]

Hate to bust your bubble, but based on the picture your cock would be DQ.

The reason would be the comb. It appears from the picture to have a 'split comb.' (Showing the tendency of the blade to divide perpendicularly. page 19 of the APA Standard)

 

[Chloe77]

Hate to bust your bubble, but based on the picture your cock would be DQ.

The reason would be the comb. It appears from the picture to have a 'split comb.' (Showing the tendency of the blade to divide perpendicularly. page 19 of the APA Standard)

No, that's a hen marking. She was trying to eat his comb, and scratched him. Here, look at this pic.








And don't say you'd "hate" to burst my bubble. Sounds like you like do do it. But... My bubble is still very intact.

 

[saladin]

'I hate to burst your bubble' is a normal southern phrase that is used when bad news is given.
No emotion one way or the other should be read into it.

 

[saladin]

I guess I see what you are saying about the comb.