Duckwing Leghorns

[Egghead_Jr]

This photo of mine is not to judge the faults in these birds but reference of color. This dark gold is what the standard calls for- True Partridge.

My own preference would be a shade lighter to make the penciling really POP and that is accepted if you don't let it go too light. I'll likely keep them as close to this tone of gold as I can so as not to lose it. I think they look quite regal this dark, the cocks have mahogany hackle and saddle. It's quite nice but do like the copper color better. Again, it's preference and personally am sticking with the standard.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-moonshiners-leghorns.1257688/
Here's a link to some of the leghorn colors/patterns I'm working with.
Trying to get more varieties then what's been available in the states. I've seen a lot of what's available oversees and am envious. Lots of cool leghorns over there.

You've posted info overload so will take a while for me to catch up. I did peek at most of the pics and think I've seen them all but known there's some info there I've either not seen or maybe just forgotten.
Those are the goldens I'm also interested in but haven't been able to nail down the exact genetics behind them. Its obvious that they aren't all genetically the same. I'm most interested in those brightly colored roosters but just don't know what is used to get that bright yellows.

Nice birds. I'd love to pick your brain on your breeding setup;how many hens per cock;pen size;feed;etc.etc.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Breeding pens are small. My old breeding pen slash grow out pen and coop are falling apart and plan to put up a new one this spring with coop and pen split in half making for two. It will just be 8x8 pen with a long 4x8 coop elevated. Divided in half this will make for two 4x8 runs and two 4x4 coops. That's plenty for breeding pen with a trio or quad in it and plenty of space for grow out pens for chicks. Can also be used as cockerel batchelor pads.

I usually only breed trios. Quality of birds is not abundant nor will it ever be as you only use the best to breed so trio breeding is what you do or if lucky quad of birds. Otherwise they all are together in the main coop. Use the breeding pens to separate cock birds from flock allowing the hens to lay infertile eggs then put the breeders in with the cock of choice to start collecting hatching eggs.

I feed turkey gamebird finisher pellets. When hatching chicks the entire flock goes on non medicated chick starter crumbles. Both are 20% protein. Use oyster shells on side for layer hens.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

View attachment 1671913

This photo of mine is not to judge the faults in these birds but reference of color. This dark gold is what the standard calls for- True Partridge.

My own preference would be a shade lighter to make the penciling really POP and that is accepted if you don't let it go too light. I'll likely keep them as close to this tone of gold as I can so as not to lose it. I think they look quite regal this dark, the cocks have mahogany hackle and saddle. It's quite nice but do like the copper color better. Again, it's preference and personally am sticking with the standard.

Nice color...Do you have pics of any of the cockerels?

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Breeding pens are small. My old breeding pen slash grow out pen and coop are falling apart and plan to put up a new one this spring with coop and pen split in half making for two. It will just be 8x8 pen with a long 4x8 coop elevated. Divided in half this will make for two 4x8 runs and two 4x4 coops. That's plenty for breeding pen with a trio or quad in it and plenty of space for grow out pens for chicks. Can also be used as cockerel batchelor pads.

I usually only breed trios. Quality of birds is not abundant nor will it ever be as you only use the best to breed so trio breeding is what you do or if lucky quad of birds. Otherwise they all are together in the main coop. Use the breeding pens to separate cock birds from flock allowing the hens to lay infertile eggs then put the breeders in with the cock of choice to start collecting hatching eggs.

I feed turkey gamebird finisher pellets. When hatching chicks the entire flock goes on non medicated chick starter crumbles. Both are 20% protein. Use oyster shells on side for layer hens.

Thanks!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Nice color...Do you have pics of any of the cockerels?

Unfortunately I was unable to obtain a cockerel. Maybe it's fortunate, dunno time will tell. The faults on these birds will need new blood to correct, mainly the white ears when they come into lay. So I'm making the cockerels. Will put my Silver cock over them to beget silver pullets and S/G cockerels. The pullets will go into my silver breeding as these partridge girls have wonderful body type (barring any hidden brass or other problems). And the best cockerel will go over the partridge Dams again to produce 50% partridge pullets and cockerels. That's the plan to have a flock of them. Depending how many other faults the cross makes may need to locate a Partridge cock late summer to move forward, again, time will tell. But note I'm going back to Dams to darken them up again. If I put the S/G over silver pullets I'd get golden pullets, and no partridge cockerels of course.

This illustration is what they look like. In person more mahogany. I saw them at Northeast Congress this year. The red on wing is what is on hackles and saddle, rich mahogany.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

Please keep us posted.
When I get my setup done I will post pics..

Thank you!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I'll keep BYC updated on my Partridge project. Not here, kind of side tracked your Duckwing Leghorn thread with Plymouth. But it does show how you'd go about getting "golden" if that's your intent.

There is something that goes on when crossing silver and partridge. More genes involved than you'd think. It will lighten the partridge. Do it enough and you will beget the "golden" you're looking for. Then it's a matter of figuring out which cockerels are true G/G with test matings. You can get them is the point. Now keep in mind that the males hackle and saddle will be darker than the pullets base color. What you see in my photo on pullets upper hackles is the color of males. So an aged copper color male would pair up with "golden" pullets. That's about what you'd keep going is copper in males and golden base color on pullets. Males always being darker than matched females. Think that makes sense.

I'll let this thread get back to Leghorn. Just wanted to give some facts on silver and gold.

Good luck.

 

[Miami Leghorn]

I'll keep BYC updated on my Partridge project. Not here, kind of side tracked your Duckwing Leghorn thread with Plymouth. But it does show how you'd go about getting "golden" if that's your intent.

There is something that goes on when crossing silver and partridge. More genes involved than you'd think. It will lighten the partridge. Do it enough and you will beget the "golden" you're looking for. Then it's a matter of figuring out which cockerels are true G/G with test matings. You can get them is the point. Now keep in mind that the males hackle and saddle will be darker than the pullets base color. What you see in my photo on pullets upper hackles is the color of males. So an aged copper color male would pair up with "golden" pullets. That's about what you'd keep going is copper in males and golden base color on pullets. Males always being darker than matched females. Think that makes sense.

I'll let this thread get back to Leghorn. Just wanted to give some facts on silver and gold.

Good luck.

It'd be nice of there was a 23 & me kit for chickens,huh?

 

[Miami Leghorn]

I'll keep BYC updated on my Partridge project. Not here, kind of side tracked your Duckwing Leghorn thread with Plymouth. But it does show how you'd go about getting "golden" if that's your intent.

There is something that goes on when crossing silver and partridge. More genes involved than you'd think. It will lighten the partridge. Do it enough and you will beget the "golden" you're looking for. Then it's a matter of figuring out which cockerels are true G/G with test matings. You can get them is the point. Now keep in mind that the males hackle and saddle will be darker than the pullets base color. What you see in my photo on pullets upper hackles is the color of males. So an aged copper color male would pair up with "golden" pullets. That's about what you'd keep going is copper in males and golden base color on pullets. Males always being darker than matched females. Think that makes sense.

I'll let this thread get back to Leghorn. Just wanted to give some facts on silver and gold.

Good luck.

Oh BTW those test matings that you mentioned, would be to which pullets?