Crossing my Red Ranger Hens.

[BlueBaby]

So glad you convinced me to seize the opportunity. He really is perfect for cross breeding with meat birds.

I'll have to see your result's in breeding that pair!

 

[Compost King]

I'll have to see your result's in breeding that pair!

I will be breeding him with the Red Ranger first but he seems like the best candidate to cross with the CX female I plan to get in February. All white feathers. I may even breed him with some of the Ayam Cemani meat crosses I made, just to get a good look at what Fibro trait looks like on a naked neck. Thats the advantage of having a Rooster, I can cross him with multiple hens at once. With a single hen I can only breed her with one Rooster per month, and to get a good batch of hatching eggs it takes up 2 months.

 

[Compost King]

5 Silver Grey Dorking X Red Rangers. 2 came out white, 2 came out chipmunk patterned and 1 is lighter version of the chipmunk pattern. Last time I only had 1 (out of 3) hatch, this time I had all 5 hatch (5 out of 6 if I include the one that did not develop). Now I can see the variety in growth patterns, differences in growth rates of males and females. And I also have have more to choose from when breeding back to the Dorking's to attempt to get a Columbian Patterned Dorking. So far its my favorite Cross because even if it takes after the Dorking's more than the Red Rangers it will still be a decent meat bird.

 

[BlueBaby]

View attachment 1620583
5 Silver Grey Dorking X Red Rangers. 2 came out white, 2 came out chipmunk patterned and 1 is lighter version of the chipmunk pattern. Last time I only had 1 (out of 3) hatch, this time I had all 5 hatch (5 out of 6 if I include the one that did not develop). Now I can see the variety in growth patterns, differences in growth rates of males and females. And I also have have more to choose from when breeding back to the Dorking's to attempt to get a Columbian Patterned Dorking. So far its my favorite Cross because even if it takes after the Dorking's more than the Red Rangers it will still be a decent meat bird.

I'm wondering with the difference in the coloring in the chick's, that maybe you stumbled upon one of those sex-link creations?

 

[Compost King]

I believe there is a sex link if I reversed the Rooster and Hen breeds. Red Male Silver female. Although I am not sure if its an easy sex link to identify in chicks Since its a Silver Duckwing Pattern and not something simpler such as a Columbia Pattern. One of the reasons why the Columbian Pattern is a favorite of mine is that it can be used for sex links and in meat birds they dress out clean like a white chicken. Part of the Reason why I want to make Columbian Dorkings is for the sex link and the easy dressing out.

Using Silver over Red theoretically does not make a sex link from what I read but what I read doesn't always match up with Reality. Keeping an eye on patterns and genders may reveal something. As you suggest, I may have stumbled on a sex link.

 

[Morrigan]

I'm always amazed at the variations you get when cross different breeds. I'm really interested in how those Dorking-RR crosses grow out. Thanks for all the pictures.

 

[Compost King]

Upon further research, There is a sex link with my Silver Duckwing x Red crossing. Not sure if it shows up in chicks though. According to that cheap online chicken calculator The males will be yellow Columbian and the Females will be White Columbian with Red Shoulders.

 

[BlueBaby]

Well, you have that picture of them as new chicks. You can observe them as they grow out, and then make notes on your saved picture of them as chicks. Then you will know what that match will make if you do it again?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I believe there is a sex link if I reversed the Rooster and Hen breeds. Red Male Silver female. Although I am not sure if its an easy sex link to identify in chicks Since its a Silver Duckwing Pattern and not something simpler such as a Columbia Pattern. One of the reasons why the Columbian Pattern is a favorite of mine is that it can be used for sex links and in meat birds they dress out clean like a white chicken. Part of the Reason why I want to make Columbian Dorkings is for the sex link and the easy dressing out.

Using Silver over Red theoretically does not make a sex link from what I read but what I read doesn't always match up with Reality. Keeping an eye on patterns and genders may reveal something. As you suggest, I may have stumbled on a sex link.

What it probably means is that the Red Ranger is not pure for color/pattern genetics. When you cross a mix to a pure breed bird you often get a variety in the chicks colors/patterns.

 

[Compost King]

What it probably means is that the Red Ranger is not pure for color/pattern genetics. When you cross a mix to a pure breed bird you often get a variety in the chicks colors/patterns.

Yep, that's one of the issues that comes up when starting off with a bird that has guarded genetics. Although from what I read the color red doesn't hide as much as black and certain white patterns. So the Chicken Calculator has a better chance of being correct.