Lavender Orpington Shredder Gene Help

[kurby22]

It’s been a few months since this thread—have you tried any dietary alterations and seen a difference at all in the shredding? My rooster LO and my two self blue Ameraucanas all have the shredder gene and I’d like to help improve the feathers if that’s at all possible. Thanks!

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

It’s been a few months since this thread—have you tried any dietary alterations and seen a difference at all in the shredding? My rooster LO and my two self blue Ameraucanas all have the shredder gene and I’d like to help improve the feathers if that’s at all possible. Thanks!

I wish I did have some results for you! Unfortunately, my summer got away from me, and then I had to leave my chickens to go to college, so I haven’t tried anything yet. Dang education

 

[kurby22]

I wish I did have some results for you! Unfortunately, my summer got away from me, and then I had to leave my chickens to go to college, so I haven’t tried anything yet. Dang education

Ahh man! School and work get in the way of all the fun!! Well I hope school is going well at least!

 

[gimmie birdies]

My LO hens are laying finally!

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

My lavender araucana hens have this issue (New Zealand type which is UK type). They always just look a bit like they've been pulled through a hedge backwards, however with a very good diet (I feed fermented crushed whole grains, mixed with pullet grower crumb fresh milled from a local producer, and meat and bone meal 3x week, fresh greens daily plus free range time, and ad-lib oyster shell seperately) the feathers haven't lost functionality, and they do live with a rooster. Even after brooding chicks I'm not concerned, however they certainly wouldn't place at a show. Just thought I'd weigh in on this not being an issue for me from a functionality issue.

 

[FeatheredFriends&Horses2]

My lavender araucana hens have this issue (New Zealand type which is UK type). They always just look a bit like they've been pulled through a hedge backwards, however with a very good diet (I feed fermented crushed whole grains, mixed with pullet grower crumb fresh milled from a local producer, and meat and bone meal 3x week, fresh greens daily plus free range time, and ad-lib oyster shell seperately) the feathers haven't lost functionality, and they do live with a rooster. Even after brooding chicks I'm not concerned, however they certainly wouldn't place at a show. Just thought I'd weigh in on this not being an issue for me from a functionality issue.

I completely agree, no issue with functionality at all! I'd just like to be able to show them
I'm majoring in poultry science, and it would definitely be cool if this could be something I research for my master's or something, as it would combine my two interests of nutrition and genetics. However, I highly doubt that will happen as it doesn't have a commercial application and so it wouldn't be economically feasible research to run.

 

[kurby22]

My lavender araucana hens have this issue (New Zealand type which is UK type). They always just look a bit like they've been pulled through a hedge backwards, however with a very good diet (I feed fermented crushed whole grains, mixed with pullet grower crumb fresh milled from a local producer, and meat and bone meal 3x week, fresh greens daily plus free range time, and ad-lib oyster shell seperately) the feathers haven't lost functionality, and they do live with a rooster. Even after brooding chicks I'm not concerned, however they certainly wouldn't place at a show. Just thought I'd weigh in on this not being an issue for me from a functionality issue.

Yeah, mine are functional just not show quality, and really hard to determine gender when young! You can see how my Ameraucanas almost look a bit silkied and my rooster has little duster broom wing feathers and a sad looking tail. I love them all though!

 

[L0rraine]

Unfortunately, if I tried this method I would have some bald chickens!

Me too

 

[RememberTheWay]

Not everyone can, and people lie. Not to mention lavender is not a recognised color I believe so they wouldn't be show quality

***First I realize this is an older post. But wanted to add to the conversation for future reference to anyone who reads this*****


Not to mention - there is no such thing as "show quality hatching eggs" .

Even exhibition breeders have culls. Every chick they hatch isn't show quality nor are they all even breeder quality birds. This is a huge misconception.

There is also no such thing as "show quality chicks/grow outs" either. There is no way of looking at chicks and guaranteeing that they will be exhibition quality. The only way to purchase a show quality bird, guaranteed, is to purchase a proven one- meaning that particular bird has been shown and placed.

Even purchasing chicks from two proven show birds bred together doesn't guarantee that those chicks will be show or breeder quality either.

Breeding is an art and at times, luck of the draw. My advice would be to try to purchase breeder birds that are being aged out of a exhibition breeders program, usually in the fall. This is when they will be evaluating all the new grow outs from the spring and making decisions on which birds from the previous year/yrs will be squeezed out by the new (hopefully better) ones. You can find really nice breeders this way.

Even better still, would be to do your research into who is who in the breed and variety you like and befriend the breeders you admire.

If you put the work in to get to know them and learn from them - you will probably be able to get even better birds, then if you hadn't. It took me a couple years of speaking to the breeders I admire, and I still am in contact with them and asking questions all the time- because I genuinely respect and admire the work they've done and consider them friends- BUT I was able to get really nice foundation birds for my program this way. It was worth the time I put in on the front end definitely though! You have to actually be serious about the breed and genuinely looking to learn for this route to be beneficial or for it to pan out.

Moral of the story - if someone is advertising "show quality hatching eggs/chicks/grow outs" RUN FAR FAR AWAY! Any breeder worth their salt would never advertise eggs/chicks as such bc they know it's a crap shoot and can't be guaranteed. Just make sure you do your research onto anyone you plan to purchase from on the front end, so you don't regret not doing so on the back end of the transaction