Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[phasianidae]

Quote:
I doubt that the browns are all males and the blacks are all females. Since the breed is Birchen, purebreeding males and females should look the same as chicks. Perhaps one of the colors are the result of the 'new blood' Sandhill introduced?

 

[Hurley]

Since I haven't read up on chick appearances for the various genes, can you tell me what color typical birchen chicks are at hatch? Just curious.

 

[phasianidae]

The ER in the picture is Birchen:

 

[karimw]

That's why I find this so odd. If the original Iowa Blues were actually Birchen how could they look like pheasants?

I suppose the brown ones could be all be male, but I know not all the black ones are female. This roo was black as a chick:

 

[karimw]

Quote:
Ooo, a quiz! lets see if I can get these:
E - dominant Black
ER - Birchen
eWh - Dominant white
e - wild type red
eb - brown
but what is ebc?

 

[Hurley]

Iowa Blues started hatching tonight, a day or so early. One is out, a couple more pipped, eggs are peeping. Go chickies go.

Will get some photos tomorrow of the ones from the last hatch. They're getting quite pretty.

 

[karimw]

I have Iowa Blues hatching now! There is a big batch in there so I'm hoping for a bunch lovely chicks! Hurley, how did your hatch turn out?

 

[mrheinz77]

Mine go into lock down Sunday. 10 eggs are looking good out of 14.
Jim

 

[phasianidae]

Quote:
Ooo, a quiz! lets see if I can get these:
E - dominant Black
ER - Birchen
eWh - Dominant white
e - wild type red
eb - brown
but what is ebc?

E-Extention of black
ER-Extention with restriction
eWh-Wheaten
e+-wild type(gold duckwing)
eb-partridge

 

[Hurley]

Hatch started out great, 7 pretty black chicks popped out, 6 from you, 1 from FlashPoint. Came back to check on them that afternoon and the incubator was dead (light, fan, everything), temp was 80 degrees, eggs were cold, chicks huddled in the corner. Pulled the chicks to the brooder (and they're doing wonderful), pulled the eggs and put them in another incubator, where they've been for a few days at 99.5 with no pipping.

I have decided I am absolutely hexed with this breed, for some reason. I should have expected this, since incubation went so well.

At any rate, for my efforts, I have replaced the chicks lost when my hubby tefloned them. I have 5 left from the previous batch that are getting big and starting to get red combs. The two chipmunk ones have heavy lacing, the 3 black ones are more black with brown flecks and light lacing. I'll have to get some photos.

It's enough to grow up and select from the next generation.

Have since fixed the incubator - plug was bad - and it seems to be working fine. Probably won't do any big hatches until next spring now, am growing up everything.


Good luck to everyone's hatches!