D'uccle Thread

[NateinFL]

I need help deciding on who to keep....2 cockerels but I will only keep one. 1st one or 2nd?

Here is their "Grandpa". His name is Bundle. Should I show Bundle?

Thanks for the input and advice as I've never shown before.

-Nathan

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
OMG! Porshia is the reason I feel in love with Porcelain d'Uccles!

Look at that color! Look at that expression! Look at that pose!

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
For pete's sake! They look so much alike, I would swear they were the same bird. THAT is a hard decision.
Personally I would go with the first one. I do not show, however, so it is purely from a breeder's perspective. I do know MF coloring as I have been studying it for a few years and though I am no where near being an expert, I think your first one has a lot of promise. Well, actually, neither one is a loser but I think that first one just is a smidgin better because of his pattern. And he shows no wattles like your second one does.

Bundle is probably worth showing. I can't see his pattern on his chest but he looks very nice from the side and he doesn't have wattles.

Make sure you read the standard and then look at your bird. Try drawing a profile photo of what the standard asks for, paying attention to details such as the feathering on the muffs and the direction they are supposed to lie, the top line as opposed to the Booted Bantam and most important (what I have noticed at shows) is the pattern and color in the variety that they are entered under.
You may not be an artist but you are the one the photo is supposed to help, not someone else. I make notations the whole time I am drawing as that helps me to visualize what I am working towards.

In the MF pattern you want every feather to have that white tip, black chevron with the rest of the feather being light orange vermillion.
This was a photo of a feather I found molted off one of my MF project Cochins that I am working on. I took the photo so I would see what I need to improve on. It helps to keep me focused....er, as best as my feeble mind can do so.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

Quote:
Yes, that was me. We breed in black Mottled to help get those white tips and black chevrons on the feathers. My MF Cochins project was practically started from scratch and though I breed more for type than color and pattern, my pattern has improved exceptionally in 2 years. I knew if I bred type to type with all other factors being there that I would get color and pattern eventually.

This is the color I started with.....

This is what I am getting (and even better) 2 years later......

This is some of what you will get crossing MF to Mottled F1......(again, only for color comparison)

I know not d'Uccles but you all get the idea on color and pattern. I still have a way to go in learning d'Uccles but I know what my type is supposed to be on Cochins and that is what I breed for.

 

[Moonchild]

Quote:
Hey Im with Amy on this one about THEY LOOK so much alike!!!! What I would base it on is how they act. Who's the sweetest and easiest to handle... But BOTH are Beautiful!!!!!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
for breeding - #1 ... Better beard/muffs, smaller less noticeable wattles, less white on him than #2

#2 I'd consider a booted bantam - not a d'uccle because of those wattles...I would not breed him for trying to get d'uccles - also too much white, litter beard or muffs...

As for Grandpa Bundle... I would definately show him! Looks to have decent carriage, though he isn't posing correctly in the picture...Nice white ticking on the hackles, chest, saddles, and tail. (that nice white ticking on the tail is missing from alot of boys I see pictures of) Nice small barely there wattles, beard and muffs are there, good comb... How are his hocks? does he have nice noticeable vulture hocks? How are his feet? If his feet feathers are really broken and messed up - wait till he molts then put him on soft deep litter bedding to show prep him.

By the way...LOVE Bundle!

 

[ScaredOfShadows]

Quote:
Yes, that was me. We breed in black Mottled to help get those white tips and black chevrons on the feathers. My MF Cochins project was practically started from scratch and though I breed more for type than color and pattern, my pattern has improved exceptionally in 2 years. I knew if I bred type to type with all other factors being there that I would get color and pattern eventually.

This is the color I started with.....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/9332_smile_foundation.jpg

This is what I am getting (and even better) 2 years later......

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/9332_many_colors_10-11_good.jpg

This is some of what you will get crossing MF to Mottled F1......(again, only for color comparison)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/uploads/9332_little_beauty.jpg

I know not d'Uccles but you all get the idea on color and pattern. I still have a way to go in learning d'Uccles but I know what my type is supposed to be on Cochins and that is what I breed for.

I have some MF X Mottled d'uccles - the male has A LOT of red on him (mainly hackles and saddle) the girls have little to barely noticable gold leakage in the neck and head.

So yes even with D'uccles this is what you would except from the cross. Beautiful cochins! I do love the the Mille Fleur coloring.

 

[hdowden]

my fluffy's if no more hatch i hope and pray these will be hens. from teddi

 

[NateinFL]

Thanks for the input...I have no idea where his little wattle came from, I agree he needs to go. I have another one that has excellent, full beard but his color is horrible. Weird how these funky variations show up...no telling what some of the parents have in the backgrounds but that is being worked on through my selective breeding program

.

 

[wegotchickens]

Quote:
I like the first one, since his spangling is nice and tight. And as others have said, he has better wattles.
On your boy with nice type & crappy coloring; Do you have space to keep him for a while? Sometimes crossing 2 'bad' birds can give good results. That's the dice throw of genetics... I'd put him with a female with good color and see what they throw before I'd totally eliminate him.

Tee hee, your old man looks like my old man when it comes to attitude. Tennessee gives me that same look when I'm messing with him. The problem with showing old men is that they may sulk and not show off for the judge. Voice of experiencce here

He looks good though!!

Also, keep as many as you can and show them all. Judges have different ideas on what they're looking for. It can help you rank them. The 2nd boy may have wattles but still win. They're still small, not to booted bantam status compared to the booted I've seen! So don't rush to let them go until you let them be evaluated by a judge, if you have the space.