Color breeding question

[Rusty Hills Farm]

I am crazy about Columbian Rocks but cannot find anyone with chicks to sell. Can I breed my own by crossing a barred Rock with a white Rock? Which might have a better chance of producing columbian coloring--barred male to white female or barred female to white male? Or am I totally off-base here?

 

[coopist]

If you want Columbian Rocks, Dick Horstman used to have some and still may (if not, he'd probably know where you could get some):

http://www.chickensbydick.com/

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Crossing a barred rock wouldnt give you columbian. I think I saw some on a hatchery web site, there are some on eggbid every now and then. Good columbian birds look great.

 

[tiki244]

Quote:
YES Barred Hen to White male,,,,the original columbian Wyandotte was created by an accidental mating of a white wyandotte male to a barred rock hen in upstate New York,,,,,go to the feathersite and click on wyandottes for more info on creating colors

 

[coopist]

I don't think so. That cross may have worked that time, but FlyingMonkeyPoop is right, it won't produce a Columbian Rock any time you do it (just like any time you cross a New Hampshire to a Barred Rock, it won't produce a Delaware). I'm not sure what it would produce in the females, maybe a black chicken because of the extended black from the mother and lack of barring from the male (someone with more extensive genetics knowledge feel free to jump in here), but in the males, I believe you'd get Barred Rocks, because of the sex-linked barring from the female. I do know that some Barred Rock breeders use White Rocks in their lines to improve type. I believe it causes a decline in quality in the barring...

Edited to add: Because of the extended black in Barred Rocks, they'd be about the worst thing you could use. You'd probably be better off with Partridge Rocks.

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

hmmm. Scratch that idea. Thanks for your input, though! Guess I'll either have to get Delawares or Wyandottes if I want columbian coloring. Ah, well. At least you saved me from breeding some ugly chicks.

Soooo...which has the sweeter temperament/personality, the Delaware or the Wyandotte?

H

 

[seriousbill]

Well, that's a whole other can of worms entirely. If all you can get is hatchery Delawares, I'd have to say, with some reservation, probably the Wyandottes. And, mind you, I breed Delawares.

It depends on where you get them from, I do know that, because hatchery stock for the Delaware breed varies widely in temperament. If you can find a heritage Delaware breeder (whose waiting list isn't already a mile long), that'd be your best bet on finding Delawares that have nice dispositions. I really don't know much about Wyandottes, never having owned any, but most people who do seem to like them.

 

[coopist]

Here's a recent thread that may help:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=56663

Best of luck.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

All of the wyandottes I have ever seen, including my own are really calm. I have seen a few columbian wyandottes at shows and they are great. A neighbor has some from MM that are turning out good so far. A private breeder that has them Duane Urch, his email is [email protected]
In Grant Breretons book he talks about partridge and how he even has partridge in his columbians, its just an interesting fact...