How to breed for coloration

[chickenshagg]

I have a Black Jersey Giant rooster that has copper hackle and saddle feathers. I want to try a breed for more of this copper coloration. I contacted the lady that I got my chicks from and she assured me that they are pure bred on her end and that the person that she got her flock started from only raised Black Jersey Giants. She also told me that she once had a hen that had some of this same copper coloration. So does anyone know how I should breed for this coloration. Should I breed it back with the pullet that I got with it which is also a Black Jersey Giant?
What if I bred it with a White Jersey Giant would that be better?

Here's a couple of photos of the Rooster in question.

 

[RAREROO]

That red coloration, especially that much of it, is not normal for Jersey Giants, and he doesn't even look like a JG in type. He looks more like a BC Marans and if you want that color, I think you should get BC Marans.

 

[Byrdj]

Quote:
Agreed!

 

[chickenshagg]

I'm not sure why you would say he does not look like a Jersey Giant. He is all Black except for the copper on him and his black has a green sheen when the light hits it. his legs are a charcoal black and the bottom of his feet are yellow. What standard for the Black Jersey Giant are you looking for?

 

[blackdotte]

I think what is being said is that he does not have the type,shape & size of a Jersey Giant. See
http://wholearth.com/images/115.jpg
http://www.mypetchicken.com/images/product_images/Popup/Studio_BlkJrsyGntCk_5642_bc.jpg
David

 

[Chris09]

Quote:
I would say because the birds lack the Size, Type and over all Shape.
Just because someone has a chicken that has black feathers, black legs and the bottom of the feet are yellow doesn't mean that they have Black Giants.
I wouldn't know what would be in a pure Black Giants that would give you the brassing in the hackles and saddle feathers. The Giant was made up of the crossing of the Black Java, Dark Brahmas, Black Langshang and I believe I read that some Black Cornish is in there all so.
Here are a picture of a Black Giants Rooster and hen (first two pic's.)Click on pic. to in-large. http://www.poultrypress.com/images/american.html


Chris

 

[Mary Of Exeter]

Is there a chance hatchery stock, or at least not breeding towards the standard, could be the reason for them looking poor quality?
If you just have them for fun, and like the color, I wouldn't worry too much about it. But if it were me, I'd try to find some good quality JG hens to put him with, to help get good type/size in.

 

[chickenshagg]

My roo is only about 4 months old so I guess I need to just let him grow and see how big he gets. He is already bigger than any of my hens but perhaps that is because he is a roo. Either way I like the way he looks so I thought it would be cool to try and develope the coloring that he has. I'm not going to show my chickens this is just a backyard flock. I'm not sure what else I can do to confirm that he is or is not a pure Jersey Giant. Like I said before the lady that I bought my Jerseys from when they were small chicks has assured me that her flock is pure and that where she got her flock started from is pure, but time will tell.

 

[cgmccary]

My roo is only about 4 months old so I guess I need to just let him grow and see how big he gets. He is already bigger than any of my hens but perhaps that is because he is a roo. Either way I like the way he looks so I thought it would be cool to try and develope the coloring that he has. I'm not going to show my chickens this is just a backyard flock. I'm not sure what else I can do to confirm that he is or is not a pure Jersey Giant. Like I said before the lady that I bought my Jerseys from when they were small chicks has assured me that her flock is pure and that where she got her flock started from is pure, but time will tell.

Your cockerel could still be pure JG and have the golden hackles. Purebreeds throw aberrant traits here and there as well. I thought your cockerel looked quite young; 4 months --- then he is not old enough to determine if he is good size & type. When you refer to him as a "Roo," a person thinks "Rooster" or "Cock," so it is assumed he is over 1 year of age & thus, the confusion. A male under one year of age is called a "Cockerel."

Just breed him back to the the pullet & keep selecting for that trait. If just a backyard flock for your pleasure - ENJOY!​

 

[RAREROO]

Quote:
Not really, I call my birds "Roos" as soon as I can sex them as males