Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[karimw]

Got my copy of Backyard Poultry in the mail today - better get yours and check out pages 54 - 58!!!

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Kari and Jim-

I totally agree with both of you guys! My earlier encouragement wasn't to discourage our push towards to APA Standard process within our flocks, but rather to inform other breeders of what may arise in their breeding pens. And that these unusual colors shouldn't be hastely disposed of as they are still within the breed's identity. Hopefully in time, we will be able as a club to recognize all the variations found within the breed and maybe even segregate those colorations into separate varieties within the breed. That in my opinion would be ideal............

To Kari's point, we have to assure that our birds breed true to standard type at least 50% of the time, and we can't stress that enough. Thanks for the reminder on that Kari!

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Here are some pics of Kari's Silver Duckwings. I'm sure you all will agree that they are fantastically beautiful!!!






I especially like this pic! Aren't they a cute couple? The duckwing hen definately has the blue grey thing going on throughout her back half of her body!

 

[debs_flock]

Beautiful birds!

 

[WVDan44]

I had one SP and 2 B eggs. One of the B eggs is developing.
My thought is that we focus on the Silver Pencil and Birchen varieties but not to throw the baby out with the bath water. For the APA we need to focus on the two but there shouldn't be a problem with anybody working on the side projects. There are unrecognized color varieties in other breeds (ie BLRW, Lavender Orpington/Ameraucanas, ...)The colors that need to be focused on though should be the colors we are working on the Standards for. This is just my opinion. It does not represent the opinion of the other officers of the IBCC unless they state otherwise.

The great thing about this group is how everything is talked out and everyone's opinions respected. I believe this is a recipe for great success if we can avoid the formation of cliques and also avoid fighting amongst ourselves as we have successfully done thus far. As the club grows, this may become more difficult to maintain, but as of today, you guys rock! And that's about all I can say about that!

 

[WVDan44]

Connie Hurley, how are those pullet eggs developing?

 

[WVDan44]

Here are some pics of Kari's Silver Duckwings. I'm sure you all will agree that they are fantastically beautiful!!!




I especially like this pic! Aren't they a cute couple? The duckwing hen definately has the blue grey thing going on throughout her back half of her body!

My being an artist, I constantly take notice color and color relationships. Here's something I see that you might dwell on. When you have a grey/blue color and put next to its complimentary color which in this case would be an orangish color the blue/grey appears to be more bluish. It is entirely possible that sp hens like this are responsible for the breed getting their name because the grey does appear more blue with the presence of salmon on the breast. Just thinking out loud y'all. That is one beautiful hen!

 

[Hurley]

The very first 5 showed development in 3, 1 is going into the hatcher.

The next set of 5 are all developing and look great thus far.

Put another 7 in today.

Waiting still for the girls to ramp up the egg production, but the younger ones are starting to mature nicely and it's getting harder to tell them from the older girl.

My younger pair are getting bigger and are moved in with the main flock. I thought I had a pair, coloration still looks that way, but the "male" hasn't yet shown the expected comb/wattle development. If "he" becomes a "she", then "she" is going to be remarkably beautiful. Can't wait to see. If "she" is a "he", he's turning out very nicely so far, if juvenile coloration can be believed.

Need to get my breeder pens functional this weekend so I can separate some of these guys out into groups. I may try the spiral breeding program, keeping 3 breeder pens and cycling the boys every other generation.

My 2nd SP rooster is getting bigger, has nice width to the breast already, and is definitely going to be heavier laced. He's got that darn Autosomal red, but the rest of him so far is so nice, I may choose to work on that in later generations.

 

[Hurley]

Oh, in regards to today's conversation, my stance is this:

I'm going to focus on SPs with a pen of birchens to keep my old line forward (especially that dreamy body type, yummy.)

If (when) I get silver duckwings, I'll likely keep them for eye candy alone, but will likely keep them in the mixed flock where I'm not selecting heavily. They can make eggs, look pretty, and potentially add to the pens if their type, etc. will add to the lines.

I agree with the notion that it's too early to eliminate potential, but I am keeping an eye to the improvement and standardization of the breed, so selection and line/type will be important to me.

 

[Jake Levi]

That pair of Silver Duckwings are really beautiful, they need to be bred and see what they can contribute.