Isabel breeding question

[Canuck88]

I have an Isabel Orpington chick that I am almost positive is a cockerel. Only a few weeks old, so too young to know for sure. But I just have this feeling that he’s a he lol.

I am fairly dense when it comes to chicken colour genetics and still trying to learn. Do I need to breed him to other Isabel hens in order to get Isabel chicks, or can I breed him to Crele hens and then breed him back to the daughters?

I apologize if this is a silly question

 

[CountryFlock]

Unfortunately you would have to breed true.

 

[Canuck88]

Unfortunately you would have to breed true.

Thank you

 

[Doublete]

If you breed to crele it is an Isabel
Crele.. which many do to enhance the barring... they’re very pretty
But for a pure isabel it should be isabel to Isabel

 

[CountryFlock]

If you breed to crele it is an Isabel
Crele.. which many do to enhance the barring... they’re very pretty
But for a pure isabel it should be isabel to Isabel

Breeding Isabel to crele won’t immediately make an Isabel crele because lavender is recessive. The F1s would be splits (het for lavender).

 

[The Moonshiner]

Breed him to crele and daughters will be crele and carrying one copy of lavender.
Breed the daughters back to him and you'll get about 50% Isabel and 50% crele that carry lavender.
Breed him to crele then breed the offspring together for around 25% isabels.