Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[mrheinz77]

Dan,
You'll just need to watch that comb. My thoughts are we have bigger things to worry about.

 

[WVDan44]

Dan,
You'll just need to watch that comb. My thoughts are we have bigger things to worry about.

Agreed! I was thinking about a post some weeks back where someone had a roo with a side sprig I believe it was called, and was going to remove said bird from breeding program. I was not sure if this was anything akin to that or not.

You guys out there have the experience and when I ask for your critique I am asking for guidance in the form of your opinion. If these few IBs of mine are average looking birds then I'm fine with that. I have nothing to compare to except a few photos on this thread, whereas you all are close enough to see each other's work.

I think we all have to decide what level we are comfortable with when culling/keeping birds for breeding. The standard is there for a road map; we can either take the freeway or the scenic route. It's all up to the individual. Some of us wants to show, some couldn't care less but I think all of us wants to be certain to remove any bad flaws that could be passed on to future generations. This shouldn't cause any embarrassment or bad press for the person who provided eggs. It's all a game of genetics, a grab bag.

 

[karimw]

The problem with side sprigs is they are recessive and DQ in the show ring. Obviously my rooster carries it and some of my females do too, though I can't see any that have it. I can't knowingly use a cockerel like that since every one of his babies will carry it to the detriment of the breed going forward for everone who buys my eggs and birds. Fortunately I have the luxury of many to choose from
Nice to see some new pictures! I'm about to cut all the Birchen hens from my breeding pen for the summer so I will only have 4 SP hens to collect from until my pullets start laying.

 

[karimw]

Quote:
I guess it depends on the amount of damage the cockerels are doing. Iowa Blues are the most irritating cockerels I've encountered yet. I usually have to pen them by themselves by age so they don't strip my hens naked and beat up on the younger birds. If I'm going to keep them, I toss them out in the layer flock so they can get big and strong and prove their freerange ability. The older hens usually teach them manners

 

[Jake Levi]

I gotta agree on cockerals, keep them separate, any breed. I have found this with all breeds that I have raised.

Also, from what I read I think SP is the color to keep, especially in the roosters.

 

[WVDan44]

The problem with side sprigs is they are recessive and DQ in the show ring. Obviously my rooster carries it and some of my females do too, though I can't see any that have it. I can't knowingly use a cockerel like that since every one of his babies will carry it to the detriment of the breed going forward for everone who buys my eggs and birds. Fortunately I have the luxury of many to choose from Nice to see some new pictures! I'm about to cut all the Birchen hens from my breeding pen for the summer so I will only have 4 SP hens to collect from until my pullets start laying.

Hi Kari, I didn't remember who talked about this earlier. I applaud your continued commitment to excellence in your breeding program and your willingness to be open about it. That's the fastest way to move this breed forward, and I get the sense that all of you breeders at the ground floor level are the same.

Can you tell if that is what my SP has on its comb? Or is that just a jumble of fleshy matter? I am not going to be breeding hell bent for leather and culling 50 birds a year, so it is important for me to know because this is my only SP.

 

[karimw]

I can't really tell - the picture gets fuzzy when I blow it up. It may just be a fold. A side sprig is like a comb point sticking straight out of the side of the comb. If she was the only one I had I would breed her

 

[WVDan44]

thanks for the reply.

 

[Jake Levi]

I appreciate all of the posts. There is a lot to be learned here for those who want to learn.

I am looking forward to it.

 

[Hurley]

Those recessive genes can be a bother, but I wouldn't throw the baby out with the bathwater, even if it turns into a side sprig. You can eliminate the gene in a couple generations if you do some test crossing to identify carriers. Those known carriers are actually quite valuable in eliminating the gene completely from a flock as they help you identify who else carries the gene vs. who doesn't. Otherwise you accept it's going to crop up time to time as the gene silently gets passed around until you happen to pair to carriers.

That being said, it's not the end of the world, not going to affect the chicken other than eliminating it to show, and at this stage of building, unless you have others, I wouldn't cull it.