On the lavender subject...there is still a bit of a grey area for many breeders when it comes to that coloration. Some want to consider it self blue...example Belgium D'Uccles and some want to consider lavender...lavender such as in the Lavender Orps. I am friends with Harry Shaffer who is a well known breeder of quality Lavender Orps. I think that coloration will be added to what is accepted in the shows. Lavender is showing up in many breeds now. One thing if breeding lavenders that you have to keep in mind is to breed back to black every other generation to keep the lavender gene "true".
The best flashlight I have found to candle with is one that is police issued. You can get them in different sizes. DH just bought one for me that is about 8 inches. I already had one that was shorter and I could see through OE eggs and some BCM depending on the depth of the color. Being in a totally dark room helps too...I use a closet....guess I am a closet candler.
One thing on genetics I have found from breeding horses is this.... I have talked in length with a geneticist at UK about my Cremello stud and Mahogany Bay mare. Now...by all genetic titers and standards I should get ONLY Buckskins. My mare has thrown 1 Buckskin which I think would have ended up more a Blue Roan as he aged, 1 Palomino and just this past spring a Blue Roan. What it boils down to is I guess these horses have never read that specifications on genetics. LOL OH...and the Blue Roan gene had jumped 4 generations to The Pusher who was the only Blue Roan in 7 generations behind him. So...it can always end up a crap shot.
My favorite candling flashlight is a little Coleman 99 Lumen... the lens is just a inch in diameter.
Terry... those maglights you are talking about are some of the best lights you can find. You can't kill them. If you do, they come with a lifetime warrenty. BTW, tour guides' favorite choice.
That seal matters as much as the brightness. Did I mention I got 9 out of 10 Olandsk Dwarfs developing "spider webs"? And the tenth one was fertile and died! SHIPPED!!!
so no olive eggs for me.
