Exactly, Mike. There are many different ways down the road to mille fleur. In the US, though, we are limited. Wheaten cochins, for example, are rather rare here. We (most on this thread) began this trip using what was available and that was buff columbian (which contains the wheaten gene) and mottled. After a few years of breeding, we realized that the columbian gene is working hard to restrict breast flowers from the MF females. Mike and I both tried adding partridge to see if this can correct it. And, it did.. right away. But, it also changed the base color of both sexes to a mahogany color rather than the rich buff we were used to. I still plan on using the partridge but am putting them back to the buff based birds to see how this helps... (all the while breeding the buff based together as well as to not set myself back). Around the world, cochins (or pekins) in mille fleur look very very different just like the belgian d'uccle does around the world. Mille Fleur is extremely complex and many agree it is the absolute toughest variety to get right. If you take a pair from one breeder of d'uccles (an established breeder and winner in the show ring) and you breed from that pair, you will continue to see success in the pattern. BUT, if you take another pair from a different show breeder and cross the two pairs, you may get a mess. That's because the genes used to make that pattern may be very different. So, whatever path you choose, it will be a very long time of hard culling to get it right.
Here's some examples in pekins around the world.
First we see how the columbian gene is working hard to restrict black on these birds. These are buff columbian based birds. I am not saying this is wrong. It CAN be improved upon... it's just one idea vs. another. I have basically two lines right now and my buff columbian based birds are looking better. I just have an ace up my sleeve if need be. I have the room and the ability to have multiple breeding pens so I can see for myself what works better.
I would say these guys are wheaten based by the black on the breast and the stippling in the female's wing feathers.
below is a french pullet. I don't really know what she's working with but, I'd sure like to. I expect eb (partridge) as her all over pattern is so striking. She is also a shade darker than our buff columbian or wheaten based hens.
Here's a fat boy from Whales. He is wheaten based as I read about him a bit.
a few fun links to mess with your mind
http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7999189
http://forum.backyardpoultry.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=8013941&start=0
http://www.chickencolours.com/TollbuntWyanEng.pdf
