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Not at this time. As far as I know, I'm the first person to deliberately breed specifically for the Calico variety. I started with the excess white "sports" that popped up in the MF lines and crossed them to each other. I am now crossing those F1 chicks to each other for the F2 generation. I am pleased at the percentage of Calico chicks that this is producing. I have also added a "flock improvement group" to the genetics to keep the cochin type. I have show quality buff columbian, black mottled and black cochin hens that I've bred to my calico rooster. Below is a young cockerel from the buff Columbian X Calico cross.
The resulting chicks (with awesome conformation and feathering!) will be bred back to their parents and the their chicks, will be bred back to my Calico line.
I refer to the first generation of Calicos ~ that showed up out of the MF line ~ as "sports"
if two sports are crossed and produce Calicos, those Calicos are F1s
two F1s crossed produce F2s, etc. etc. etc.
As for coloring At this time I'm still exploring what develops with the crosses. I'm thinking some of the required traits will be:
~ the presence of 'hysterical' mottling. Mottling that does not 'shut off' after the white tip to the feather is deposited, but rather continues up the feather shaft. Giving the appearance of a mostly white bird with colored specks or splashes all over it.
~ at least three colors visible on the breast, wings, cushion and feet
~ conformation should be the same as for any other cochin variety
The presence of hysterical mottling is what distinguishes Calicos from a tri-colord Splash. The excess white is caused by a mottling gene ~ it is not the base color of the cochin.
For my purposes, I will stick to using only the MF sports for the original foundation birds, except in the case of outcrossing with show quality birds to improve type. In those cases, I will chose birds that I feel will most improve whatever trait is lacking in my Calico line. Once I have enough F1s, I will no longer be breeding the 'sports', rather only using the F1 and F2 Calicos. To avoid 'muddying the waters', genetically, I don't intend to use Splash or partridge birds. I feel that using black, blue, red, buff or white (?) are all appropriate outcrosses ~
provided they are show quality,
So far, I'm having fun. And I
LOVE my Calico Cochins...