@QueenMisha you seem to know a lot about genetics. Silver spitzhauben roo with black astrolorp hen, white leghorn hen and production red hen. Also same 3 hens (which is actually 18, 6 of each breed) with a gold spitzhauben roo? There is also a lavender orpington boy but I'm not sure he's figured out how to "be a roo yet" . He's only 7 months. He mounts but not for more than 2-3 seconds.
I already have one batch from the mix. 12 hatched 10 have lived to reach 1 week. If I post pics do you think you could help identify?
I started researching genetics about a year ago. Most of what I've learned has been online but I'm also working my way through Genetics of the Fowl by F.B. Hutt.
Silver Spitzhauben over Australorp will produce black chicks, possibly with some white leakage in the hackle (I'd consider leakage of this cross very unpredictable). SS X White Leghorn will produce mostly white chicks, probably with some minor black leakage. SS X RIR is... unpredictable. I'd expect generally Silver or lemon-creme type coloration with very messy Spangling/black markings and red leakage. Should be very interesting, actually, if very muddled.
Gold Spitzhauben X BA will produce generally black chicks, probably with gold leakage. GS X White Leghorn will produce white chicks with a lot of gold and probably black leakage. GS X RIR will produce gold/red birds with potential muddled black markings and leakage.
Lavender is a recessive black dilution gene. Only Lavender X Lavender or Lavender X Lavender carrier will produce Lavender offspring; Lavender X anything else will act like black, though all offspring will carry Lavender.
I can take a look at them and do my best but it is difficult to tell much of anything from chick down coloration. It's usually at 6-8 weeks when they develop their juvenile plumage that they become easy to identify. If you do take pictures you would also do well to post them in the "What Breed or Gender is This?" forum for second, third, and so on opinions, as I can't and won't claim to be correct 100% of the time.
