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I was thinking the same thing. I do have a topic I'd like to "revisit." I've thought and pondered the brief discussion about Birchens, specifically my Birchens and I'd really like to discuss this further so that I can make the needed changes in my direction.
Even before this following quote, Tom commented that the pattern appeared "incomplete" on my hens. Then sjarvis stated in the quote below that I might consider using an actual Birchen to set the color - I'm thinking this also means the pattern, maybe even more specifically so. So does this mean that my girls are not carrying the Birchen gene and just kind of LOOK like Birchens? Does it also mean that if they were actually ER/ER and the roo the same, then the pattern would be predictably Birchen, but as you stated sjarvis, I could skip all of the culling for color/pattern?
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It sounds like it is necessary to practice double breeding to get the correct pattern on the Columbians. I have Partridges and I intend to double breed them, but so far I don't have enough offspring to select from. I'm hatching every eggs I can get from them and the Birchens, but hatch rate has been really bad this year.
The Columbian Pattern can be single mated with a fair amount of success, but is best dowuble mated. Have you considered bringing in an actual Birchen to set the color, and pattern as well actual Birchen genetically? It would take some time to get back to good Cochin Type but would eliminate all the color culls in teh process.