Cochin cross Brahma black

[Tracy G]

Hi I would like to try get better quality black Brahmas as currently I have but they don’t have yellow feet if I crossed these 2 breeds would it help

 

[Buffbrahmasforever]

Crossing breeds will not get you better quality in one breed. It will result in a mix breed. If you want better quality I would look for a breeder with show quality of the breed. If you want a mixed bird with certain qualities then you could mix. Not if you wanted better quality in a certain breed.

 

[Amer]

Yes Cochins could help bring in yellow legs, I suppose.
What color feet do they have? If white, I think your Brahmas might carry the yellow foot gene.

 

[Tracy G]

Yes Cochins could help bring in yellow legs, I suppose.
What color feet do they have? If white, I think your Brahmas might carry the yellow foot gene.

No they dark like black with yellow under

 

[Amer]

No they dark like black with yellow under

I see. So it’s probably just epidermal melanin. A cross with a Cochin would help but you may sacrifice type.

 

[Amer]

I would keep breeding them since it’s minor but breed towards yellow legs unless it doesn’t get better. Then I would consider crossing.
Can I see a picture of the legs? I’m not sure if it’s id+ or just epidermal melanin.
id+ cannot be bred away without outcrossing, epidermal melanin can.

 

[Tracy G]

I see. So it’s probably just epidermal melanin. A cross with a Cochin would help but you may sacrifice type.

What would u recommend? Just breeding them to see if I get chicks with Yellow feet? Or mix with a different colour

 

[Chickenhappy8708]

I'm,not a breeder, just wanted to see what this turned out like lol, may help to I suppose, you take a risk when you cross-breed.

 

[Amer]

What would u recommend? Just breeding them to see if I get chicks with Yellow feet? Or mix with a different colour

Yep, just breeding them.

 

[Bo Garrett]

Your problem is that your birds are dominant for extended black which causes the shanks and toes to be overlaid with a dark pigment. If you cross black cochins into them you'll need to find birds that are self black with yellow legs, generally the males will have white in the saddle near the base of the tail. Breed these males to the best brahma females to produce birds with the correct leg color. You can also reverse this breeding and produce birds with correct leg color but if you breed yellow leg to yellow leg you'll produce pure yellow leg females and males that will only be useful for breeding to dark legged females.

Blessings,

Bo