Charcoal Blackshoulder Pied

[deerman]

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They have a different look for sure. Some of my 2 yr old look better than others, myself I do like the charcoal color , so far they look better at 3 yr.

 

[deerman]

Took a few pic of my charcoal today, like I said I like them better than Opal. Sure they will look grand in blackshoulder ,and white eye.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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It's not that easy, peafowl are a little different and so far to date all charcoal hens have been sterile for some reason, the only way to reproduce them is by using a bird like and india blue that is split to charcoal, and no matter what, the resulting hens are always still sterile, that's what Steve was getting at, there's got to be something in the genetic make up of them that causes this, as well as the 1/2 life expectancy of them, I'm an opal man myself, no problems with them, though like deerman said, the black is pretty, just wish it was iridescent black instead of dull "flat" black, they would be something to see then

 

[bandbaustin]

Thanks for sharing your pics, I still think they are stunning birds. I hope to be getting some real soon as soon as i can get another pen built for a pair.

 

[deerman]

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It's not that easy, peafowl are a little different and so far to date all charcoal hens have been sterile for some reason, the only way to reproduce them is by using a bird like and india blue that is split to charcoal, and no matter what, the resulting hens are always still sterile, that's what Steve was getting at, there's got to be something in the genetic make up of them that causes this, as well as the 1/2 life expectancy of them, I'm an opal man myself, no problems with them, though like deerman said, the black is pretty, just wish it was iridescent black instead of dull "flat" black, they would be something to see then

There has been a case of a charcoal spalding hen that did lay..........

 

[onthespot]

Thanks for the explanation about the sterile hens. Sounds like a genetic dead end cross then, like a mule. I know it is not a cross species offspring, but the resulting cross makes sex-linked mules. I would say it is not "fixable" from the sounds of it. Like people wanting to make barred ameraucanas with slate legs. Ain't happening. Genetic impossiblility using the normal, common barred gene. Breeding charcoal pea hens is like trying to breed albino mice without red eyes. You might make some white ones, but they won't be albinos. If that is the case, then just produce what you produce, and breed from the males and the splits. The sterile charcoal hens would just be considered beautiful by-products of such a breeding program... Seems there would be plenty of buyers for them that don't want to breed. If there aren't, then I suppose some specialty restaurants would be interested in them as a featured menu item, very pricey. Indian restaruants, to be exact. What I'm saying is, these charcoal mule hens will not be stacking up like cord wood in any breeding program in any case, so if people want to breed for that color, go for it.

 

[Choctaw Valley Farm]

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Now see that Charcoal Male don't have that Stupid Look to his face, He looks like a Normal Peacock.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

yep, he is a good looking boy

 

[deerman]

Thanks, now he did have that stupid look as a 2year old, you know those crazy neck feathers.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

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glad to see he grew out of it!!