Nankin Discussion Thread

[saladin]

The pullet tails are wrong; however, understand they are very hard to get right. From the beginning, Monty, Don, Howard, Mary Ann and myself have been working on them for several years now; and we still have problems. So, don't take this criticism personally. We are all working toward the same goal.

The pullet tails should not be black.
They should be 'light chestnut red' with a blob of black.

What is chestnut? lol. That is the million dollar question. Some folks like a darker color; others a lighter color. Personally, and not all agree with me, I don't think we should be trying to produce 'cookie-cutter' Nankins. I'm against that. I think there is a place for the artistic expression of the breeder. Which do I prefer? I prefer the darker version of chestnut over the lighter washed-out version: especially in the cock bird.

I am fully aware that the Nankin is not the OEG wheaten. I simply stated that wheaten is the base.

 

[RioLindoAz]

Hmmmmm. Light chestnut with a blob of black? Do you have any photos of a bird with tail feathers like this?




Please post them!

 

[saladin]

I'm sorry but I don't have any pictures of my Nankins. Mary Ann's and Monty's pullet tails are closer to the Standard than mine are. But my cocks have good tails. lol.

 

[Schweiger]

Yes Please post. I have 30 birds from Mary Ann and I want to know which should be culled so I can continue in the "right" direction. i have one hen which is so light she almost has a cream body that I am positive I will cull but the others I am not 100%. If maybe you could post An "ideal" bird ( both male and female) it would be a great help. I meant "ideal" as in desired and not the hatchery... Thanks

 

[saladin]

Here's how the Bantam Std. reads for Nankin tails: page 200-201

Male
Tail: Main Tail-black with some sheen. Sickles-lustrous black thin lacing of medium chestnut at point of feather which bradens out to the point of almost meeting at base of feather.

Female
Tail: Main Tail-light chestnut red, large elongated blob of black laced with light chestnut, covering about one third of end of feather


As you can see the tails are in the pictures are incorrect.

 

[saladin]

I'd keep that light cream colored pullet. I'd breed her to the darkest male you have.


Understand how this all works: We all hatch as many as we can and then cull down to 10% or even less. If you received 25 chicks from Mary Ann then know that you received them from one of the best flocks and best breeders of Nankins in the country. Now, what is 10% of 25? 2.5: pick out your best trio and breed them like rats. Keep a few spares because chickens die. And you will be well on your way. Some side matings would be to pair up some extremes like I suggested.

 

[Schweiger]

It looks like I will have to fiddle around. Does this sound good?

Lightest hens to darkest roos...

Darkest hens to lightest roos...

and then breed the best out of the middle range?

Also my flock is both SC and RC. Shuld I breed the SC to the SC and the RC to the RC, or does this not matter and I just base my breeding off of color?

 

[saladin]

You can breed them how you think best; that is the beauty of this whole deal. Personally, I chose to just breed RCs several years ago.

My suggestion and it is only a suggestion is to segregate the comb types.

As to the breed pens:
Pen 1: Best cock to 2 best pullets (best type and best color). Keep them together and do not be tempted to rotate the cock out.
Pen 2: Lightest cock to darkest pullet.
Pen 3: Darkest cock to lightest pullet.

If you want you can throw all the rest into a 'cull' pen and hatch some of those too just to see what you get. It'll be like Christmas.

It is always easier to work on one thing at a time or at most two things: ie. tail color and comb type (provided type is already correct).

 

[Schweiger]

It looks like to me what we all need is someone to post a picture of either a show winning pair or just a picture of an ideal specimen of each sex. That way we know what we are breeding toward. I mean I have 3-4 hens that I think are the cream of my crop but yet I could be wrong. i am a visual person so the word "chestnut" means nothing to me, while a chestnut bird is totaly different. Is it possible to get one of the main breeders like Mary Ann to post some pictures?

 

[saladin]

Evidently the Nankin site is not working, but the original page is still up with a trio pictured. google Nankin bantams.

Look at Jim Pond.'s birds at f eathersit e. com They are some nice birds.

I've never seen MA post any of her birds; neither has Monty, Don, Howard or myself. lol.