Dark Blue/Light Blue Questions

[HenThymes]

When a chick is born from a Dark blue rooster to black hen paring and hatches out light blue does it tend to stay and feather in light blue or do they turn dark? I have had dark blue chicks hatch and stay dark and also ones turn a beautiful light blue with lacing but this is my first light blue to hatch... TIA

 

[justuschickens59]

Hey Tricia - Are we talking Orpingtons here? I've been talking with Grant Brereton and David Pownall and I did ask David about this.

In an e-mail, I've copied and pasted below what David told me regarding the blue color.

"I have found with my blues, chick feather is the same base colour as the adult feather that follows."

Hope this helps some.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Mine have always stayed the same. I do find that lacing/truer color comes in after their 18 month molt. But when hatched light it doesn't vary to dark. I have dark blues from Dick Horstman's lines and I would have told you they were black up until they matured at 6/7 months, now they get lacing on them. I've never had that happen.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Does that rule follow with other blue chick breeds?

 

[HenThymes]

Yes Joy we are talking orp. That statement confuses me a bit because my blue pullet that is about 3 months old hatched dark but it turning lighter with dark lacing everyday. Now this chick born today is real light blue (will get pics when it fluffs) like I have not seen yet in any of my hatches.

3 month old shortly after hatch

her last weekend

 

[Illia]

Yes, matters concerning how blue, its shades and lacing breeds, all go with any breed.

 

[justuschickens59]

Tricia - Next time I e-mail him, I'll ask him to expand a bit on that and see what he says.

 

[HenThymes]

Sounds good, it will be interesting to see what someone with such vast experience can enlighten us on.

 

[rebel-rousing-at-night]

Quote:
Well,I wish I had a pic of the dark blue chick that hatched this week.I don't want the chick to get hurt by the broody mom.

 

[justuschickens59]

Tricia - Yes, I'm interested in knowing more, too. My first thought when I got the e-mail was that the base color of the bird as a juvenile will be the same color after it molts, but now I'm not sure and you've got me pondering. I definitely will ask him. He has given me some really good information on my blacks. I'm really thankful for his input and advice.