Chicken Breeding Projects, For 2020!

[MysteryChicken]

Calico chickens sound very interesting. I would love to see them someday

I'll be getting to those after my first main projects. This is a fun way to learn genetics.

 

[I Love Layers]

I downsized my breeding flock of LF Cochins due to personal stuff this fall. But with that downsize I should end up with more uniform offspring. The one thing that should greatly improve with this is foot color. Another thing that will improve greatly is head shape

Here is one of my favorite hens, that I did keep, she has the best head out of all of the ones I did keep.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I downsized my breeding flock of LF Cochins due to personal stuff this fall. But with that downsize I should end up with more uniform offspring. The one thing that should greatly improve with this is foot color. Another thing that will improve greatly is head shape
View attachment 1989177
Here is one of my favorite hens, that I did keep, she has the best head out of all of the ones I did keep.

She's pretty with that old lady face. How long have you been working with this?

 

[I Love Layers]

She's pretty with that old lady face. How long have you been working with this?

About 6 years I think, not every long, I started with BBS but downsized to just blacks last year. Every once in a while I do get a recessive white which is cool

 

[MysteryChicken]

About 6 years I think, not every long, I started with BBS but downsized to just blacks last year. Every once in a while I do get a recessive white which is cool

That's a long time of breeding chickens. Surprises can be fun.

 

[mandelyn]

I'll be looking for better feather color and feather quality on my Marans, I need more silver, cleaner blue and less fluff on them now that I'm satisfied with their type/size/features.

I'll be looking for the combs that stand up on the Bresse instead of giant flop combs, supposing that they have the type I'm after. The fullest body is more important then the comb but if I get the choice I'm opting for nice combs too. They've been getting pretty consistent and they're heavier in the chest than the birds I started with.

In the projects... that's where it's getting fun. All sorts of fun feathers are coming out. Body type is getting closer to dual purpose type structure. I've been looking for a certain "frame" and a flat walnut comb. The birds who have what I'm looking for are being advanced, some are being crossed with the Bresse to see if I can get their table qualities improved. I'll have to be picky with that to get the skin and development in there, though the fat content/type will be hard to pick for since I won't know who has it until dinner time.

These two were the best hybrid boys from last season, for the type I'm after and temperament.

I already have something like 60 chicks on the ground. More coming!

 

[MysteryChicken]

I'll be looking for better feather color and feather quality on my Marans, I need more silver, cleaner blue and less fluff on them now that I'm satisfied with their type/size/features.

View attachment 1989744


I'll be looking for the combs that stand up on the Bresse instead of giant flop combs, supposing that they have the type I'm after. The fullest body is more important then the comb but if I get the choice I'm opting for nice combs too. They've been getting pretty consistent and they're heavier in the chest than the birds I started with.

View attachment 1989745

In the projects... that's where it's getting fun. All sorts of fun feathers are coming out. Body type is getting closer to dual purpose type structure. I've been looking for a certain "frame" and a flat walnut comb. The birds who have what I'm looking for are being advanced, some are being crossed with the Bresse to see if I can get their table qualities improved. I'll have to be picky with that to get the skin and development in there, though the fat content/type will be hard to pick for since I won't know who has it until dinner time.

These two were the best hybrid boys from last season, for the type I'm after and temperament.

View attachment 1989755
View attachment 1989754

I already have something like 60 chicks on the ground. More coming!

Wow, wonderful birds you're working on. I love the Marans, & your hybrids.
What's your hybrid mixed with? I see a GameFowl type appearance with them.

 

[I Love Layers]

I'll be looking for better feather color and feather quality on my Marans, I need more silver, cleaner blue and less fluff on them now that I'm satisfied with their type/size/features.

View attachment 1989744


I'll be looking for the combs that stand up on the Bresse instead of giant flop combs, supposing that they have the type I'm after. The fullest body is more important then the comb but if I get the choice I'm opting for nice combs too. They've been getting pretty consistent and they're heavier in the chest than the birds I started with.

View attachment 1989745

In the projects... that's where it's getting fun. All sorts of fun feathers are coming out. Body type is getting closer to dual purpose type structure. I've been looking for a certain "frame" and a flat walnut comb. The birds who have what I'm looking for are being advanced, some are being crossed with the Bresse to see if I can get their table qualities improved. I'll have to be picky with that to get the skin and development in there, though the fat content/type will be hard to pick for since I won't know who has it until dinner time.

These two were the best hybrid boys from last season, for the type I'm after and temperament.

View attachment 1989755
View attachment 1989754

I already have something like 60 chicks on the ground. More coming!

I used to have a quad of Bresse, I really liked them, I think one hen is still around. If I had kept one project breed that would've been it

 

[Trevorusn]

Well, I am hoping to get Buff Brahma pullets and a cockerel and try crossing with my BJGs and see what results and refine for size from there. Also, do have a question...

This is Lola, my BLR Wyandotte hen who has less than ideal lacing, body size and color. I love her self blue though, it is a very pretty almost lavendar color and really looks elegant in person. So I plan on having her make kiddos with my BLR cockerel Gunner.

He is a big boy with beautiful lacing and sweet tints of orange in his saddles/hackles and very well developed lacing. My question is will their young have the lighter blue of Lola with the more developed lacing of Gunner?? Or will Gunner's lacing be diluted?? I understand refinement will be needed, but curious on if it is a worthwhile endeavor with them? It will be my first time breeding project ever, so I am all ears on help!

 

[mandelyn]

Wow, wonderful birds you're working on. I love the Marans, & your hybrids.
What's your hybrid mixed with? I see a GameFowl type appearance with them.

There's some Legbar, Twentse and Marans in those two boys.

This is grandpa bird, the Twentse. I couldn't get them to hatch pure so I started hybridizing from the rooster and then sold them on as lawn ornaments. Now that I'm coming into the 3rd generation and putting Hybrid to Hybrid I'm seeing some boys coming through without the barring and closer to that Twentse color, hoping for a keeper out of it.