Crossbreeding

[crazymax02]

Like a double blue laced on a BCM body if that makes sense.

 

[Mrs. K]

I had riff raff hens, and bought a Bielefelder rooster, which for the most part made for some pretty colored chicks that blend into the SD prairie, and I just harvested the roosters, and they had the best carcasses that I have produced so far. BUT they are slow to start laying, and he tends to hang in the coop in less than perfect weather, and really does not forage like I thought he would...

So I am thinking of getting some Buckeyes, I have heard that they are good layers and foragers.

There is always something. Such a fun hobby.

Mrs K

 

[junebuggena]

Like a double blue laced on a BCM body if that makes sense.

It's already been done in Barnevelders. If you crossed a few Splash Barnevelders with the Marans, then you bred back to the Marans, it's possible that you will have some nice double laced blue Marans within a few years. Keep in mind that you will need to be consistent breeding not just for plumage color/pattern, but for the Marans' white skin and feathered legs as well. Barnevelders all ready are dark egg layers, and they have the same comb type, so no worries there.
This chart breaks down the basics of breeding with the blue gene. Remember that Blue is not a color, but a gene that dilutes/modifies black coloring.

 

[Our Roost]

Try to focus on crossbreeding for gain such as dominant plus factors a certain breed has such as very weather tolerant, or such as early point of lay and or large eggs. There are many benefits you can enjoy from crossbreeding. Yes, color is pretty but it suits no purpose if it is not productive. Choose the best of your best and then engineer your wants from those breeds used. The rooster contributes one gene and the hen contributes 2. Read up on genetic transfers!

 

[Our Roost]

post by junebuggena, thanks.