Iowa Blues - Breed thread and discussion

[ottbjumper06]

Thanks a bunch Connie!
Curt, I have (another) question for you, maybe you can help me out since you have some of Denny's birds too. My chicks from him are 9 weeks old now, and I only have one with comb/wattle development. Could it be possible I got only ONE cockerel out of 12 chicks?

 

[Jake Levi]

Found this while looking for more info, thought I'd share as it's a nice diagram.

Also came across this EE rooster with a similar white pattern, including the white extending up into the shafts.

Kind of a cool effect. Still trying to find the genetic combo that causes it.

Makes me think he's a Pg/pg and we're seeing a heterozygous effect. Would bet a homozygous would show the more complete lacing. We'll see how breedings from this fella go. I like the extension onto his body, though, more than Ben's pattern.

He's a beauty for sure, but I prefer David's pattern.

Plenty of variations for all of us.

I'm sitting happy with my F2s from Kari, one SP cockeral and the rest Birchens and variations, as they develop their colors are becoming closer except I have the two almost diluted ones that are holding the dilute. We shall see what will be.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Do they still call it spangled when it's white? I was under the impression that it was dark splotches on the ends of the feathers that = spangling. I know it isn't really mottling, either, since that's generally an all-over effect of white, and it's a different shape.

The shape reminds me of this image:

except for inverted. I'm betting the Pg is playing into it, but need to research the rest of what's causing it.

This is a good diagram Connie. I'm seeing most of my cockerels developing breast feathers with a pattern right between the top left and bottom left. This is what originally made me think we had Columbian in the mix back when we were setting up the Standard as these patterns are all variations on Columbian................
I also believe that it is this same Columbian gene that's responsible for giving the unique breast feathers on the hens. The black "horseshoe" on a white feather like the pullet below. In all reality it's just a single black lace, but it looks like a long horseshoe to me. I also have a hunch that it's the Columbian that's causing the white head and white front of neck on the pullets/hens. Both of these traits (the stark white head and front of neck) don't exist in the Brahma, Silver Penciled Rock, Silver Penciled Wyandotte, etc. They have some black markings on these feathers.


Also, as I understand spangling can be black or white, it's the pattern shape not the color that defines it. Examples of each (silver spangled hamburg has a black spangle, mille fleur has a white spangle).

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Thanks a bunch Connie!
Curt, I have (another) question for you, maybe you can help me out since you have some of Denny's birds too. My chicks from him are 9 weeks old now, and I only have one with comb/wattle development. Could it be possible I got only ONE cockerel out of 12 chicks?

It is possible, if that were the case you'd be very lucky! I can already see I have quite a few gentlemen developing from my Denny birds. Don't be surprized if after a few more weeks you end up with some more cockerels popping up. Sometimes they can take awhile before they establish thier comb/wattle development, especially if they are housed with older cockerels/roosters. For some reason it seems to stunt their development in some areas............I assume it hormonal in nature, not sure............just a guess.

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

Jake -

We need (I use that word lightly! haha) pics of your two "dilute" chicks before they lose their chick down coloration!!! I'm very excited to see what they look like...........not to mention watching them grow up!

when you day "dilute" can you describe that some more? What color is the chick down on the head, under the chin, neck, back, breast, and abdomen? Are they kind of a "smokey" color? If so, a smokey grey, black, blue, mulberry, chocolate, etc........

 

[ottbjumper06]

Do feather patterns play a role in telling at this age? If it helps, my cockerel looks like the one you posted Curt and its the only one that looks like that. Its also a Brahma mix. Oh well, does anyone want to sell me a SP cockerel ;-)? Lol

 

[IowaBlueCurt]

I've noticed that by 2 months I can usually tell the sex by the comb and the feather pattern that's begining to develop. I've got some extra SP cockerels, and I'm sure both Kari and Connie do as well. I'm not going to be able to make the Mason City show, so it may work out better to contact one of them for a cockerel as they could bring him up for you. I'd advise you obtain 3-4 cockerels, that way you'll have some more obtions when it comes to selecting a nice cockerel for breeding. If you have only one to chose from, then you get to stick with whatever faults he may have......size, color, type, etc.

 

[ottbjumper06]

That would be perfect! Its too bad you cant make it to the Mason City show, but there is always the Eastern Iowa show!

 

[Hurley]

I am actually "suffering" from a high pullet ratio on my SP birds. I say this very tongue-in-cheek as I'm delighted to have 2 cockerels to 8 pullets in my current flock, but I do need some more cockerels to work towards what I'm after.

Got 4 1 week old SP chicks now, 5 (2 sp, 3 birchen, 1 as yet unhatched egg) in the hatcher this am, and a bunch more incubating.

I ended up ordering a sale coop for the Mason City show, will see what I put in it. LOL

I've also got 2 cockerels and I think 5 or 6 dark birchen IBs from my old line that I am letting mature to see if I want to work them into the new line. I have 2 pullets that are completely black, but interestingly enough where the birchen lace would be, the black there is a different quality so you can see a black lace on black, if that makes sense. I love the body type I had in my old line, so some blending of the ways is in order. I can bring in the better lacing and hopefully keep the body type.

Edit: 6 chicks hatched today, 4 birchens (out of my pretty birchen gal x Big Ben) and 2 SP. One is the typical coloration, the other is more red/rusty than the other chicks I've hatched.

 

[Hurley]

http://www.poultryshowcentral.com/support-files/2013wipscatalog.pdf

Anyone interested in heading to ...

WISCONSIN INTERNATIONAL
POULTRY CLUB
SPONSORS OF:
The Wisconsin International Poultry Show
“One of America’s Prestige Shows”
Portage, Wisconsin
Columbia County Fairgrounds
September 28th & 29th 2013

It's the weekend after NIPA's show in Mason City.
Thinking about going, but not sure if it's worth it if I'm the only IB person there.