I wish I could find that citation on health problem with the blue Gene. I'd share it with you . Problem : people selling chicks , then they start to grow up and they realize the chick is Blue when they thought it was the another color. So they just breed it in anyway and see what happens. then you have more chicks with the blue gene and so and so and so . Pretty soon people are breeding wild colors to see what happens. It's not funny.
I watched it happen in Marans over the years. It really hurts a breeds integrity. It's sad.
The blue gene should be handled by experienced people like yourself. And national breed clubs should have a list of color mentors who can help guide newcomers in using colors wisely.
Best,
Karen
Still for myself i havent seen blue cause any trouble with marans or any other breed. Really havent seen that marans have had any issues that any other breed hasnt had. Except for egg color which of course isnt as big of an issue in other breeds since most arent known for egg color as marans are.
I can now see our difference though. You have different thoughts on breeding in general. You take it more serious than i do. Dont get me wrong i take it serious. I bred and showed and did well with it for more then ten years. But ive also cross bred and mixed for no other reason then to get more layers.
Theres about as many reasons for breeding as there are breeders. Some breed for no other reason then to produce chicks. Sounds like youre into breeding to preserve breeds and to better a breed. When thats your goal and your mindset then probably 95% of the ones breeding your breed or a breed of interest to you would be in your opinion taking the breed in the wrong direction, polluting the gene pool or ruining the breed.
I see the same few breeding the way you think they should be and the same many not but i dont see it as a harsh reality as you.
There will always be some breeding for the breed and they dont just breed it anyway or buy chicks that could of come from those who do breed that way. For me its two different words and in fact theres many different worlds in breeding.
Others never hurt any breeds i was working with in reguards to my birds. I did what i could to improve them and any new birds i brought in i knew inside out because i knew the breeders and their lines as they knew mine. The rest of the world could do what ever they pleased because our worlds didnt cross paths, it wasnt anything i could ever control, or cared to.
Overall in the big picture for the breed as a whole yes maybe they didnt do it anything good. but thats how breeding has always been and will always be.
I just cant see it as an oh my they bred blues into the breed and now theyre ruined. Or a you crossed colors? Now youve polluted the gene pool forever.
Now that ive defended the crazy breeders i will add that if youre breeding birds that you dont understand the breeds SOP and their genetics i would bet if you were to study a little and get a better idea about your breed or breeds you would have more fun with them. Even if youre just going crazy mixing colors (which im currently doing with one breed) find out the genetics and what will happen when crossing certain colors. Some colors really dont work well when crossed with other certain colors. I have a lot of fun figuring out what new colors i can get from colors i have and i sure havent even made a dent in ruining my breed. Imo
