***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[NanaKat]

Thought I'd post these up close photos of the feathering on Blue and Lavendar as a way to show the feathering but also for someone to confirm if I got it right or correct me if I got it wrong......

Blue and Lavendar Cochin roo (Samson) Self Blue no lacing

Blue Cochin hen (Delilah) Blue as an incomplete dominant lacing visible.

Blue Wyandotte (Bonnie Blue) Blue as an incomplete dominant - feathering with some darker blue lacing

Sounds a lot like the genetics on my Double Violet in Lovebirds.

 

[artsyrobin]

was wondering- what is involved in shipping eggs? Is there some sort of certification or anything like that?

 

[NanaKat]

Quote:
I found a faster way: I highlite the passage and then right click with my mouse and select "copy". Then I go to my email page and paste the passage into an email and then send it to myself. Then I can perint it off or file it in a folder.

I learn something new every day! I knew how to highlight a passage (although I sometimes have to "quote" the post before I can get it to highlight) but didn't know how to right click and select "copy." Sounds much easier than the extra steps I use. I have been emailing myself information for awhile - and may have learned to do that after reading that trick from you sometime back. Much more handy than opening a Word document and pasting into that - plus I can access the information from my emails instead of having to be on the computer where the document is saved in order to retrieve it.

My email program lets me save a draft. I can go to several sources and copy/paste information into the same draft and then save it until I'm ready to send it to me.

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
love that blue cochin color! wow!

 

[smithbantam]

Quote:
No certification,
I just bubble wrap each egg and put in carton, and pad the carton with newspaper or bigger bubble wrap. I alway use a tracking number on my shipments.

 

[artsyrobin]

anyone need a chicken friendly dog? Buddy(lab/heeler) is good with chickens, but has wandering paws.....not sure how to cure that....

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
No certification,
I just bubble wrap each egg and put in carton, and pad the carton with newspaper or bigger bubble wrap. I alway use a tracking number on my shipments.

ok, thanks! am thinking in the future doing serama or silkies...

 

[muesky]

Quote:
Rebecca,
I assume you are using heavily tufted and bearded Americauna Males? If this is the case you will likely get more than 1/2 of teh First generation tufted and bearded, Feather legs is a Dominant trait so using cochin all offspring will be feather legged.
Now based on how strong the Blue/green egg selection was in the background of teh Americaunas you are using you will likely get some F1 pullets that will lay a green egg. Keep only thise pullets that lay a green egg and are bearded and tufted.
For your second generation birds I would establish 2-3 pens.
Year 2
Pen 1 Headed by an Americauna Rooster and 5-6 Green egg laying, Bearded, tufted F1 Pullets. This pen will strengthen the egg color genetics, Beards, Tufts. Select from here only birds that remain Bearded, Tufted, feather Legged, and lay Green Eggs. Hopefully you will get a Male from this pen that meets these characteristics.
This pen is primarily for a Male, with 90% of your desired traits but needs to have Beard, Tufts, and feathered leggs. Leg feathering may be weak from this pen some will be very well feathered and some not at all.

Pen 2 Headed by a F1 male, and 4-6 F1 Pullets. This mating is for Body shape, and Feather confirmation. All males should be discarded as not all will carry the genes for teh Blue Green egg and you will know if they do or not until they are breed to something and it is raised and starts laying. Using Males from here could ruin teh entire project.
Select from this pen only females that demonstrate the body type, feather type, traits you are looking for, wait for the to begin laying keep only those that meet all your criteria, body shape, size, beards, tufts, egg color.

Year 3
Male from Pen 1 x females from Pen 2.

Egg color will not get lost if only Blue / Green eggs are set to hatch. Body shape will begin to take form but you will see some for the next 5-8 years that varry from your desires.
the Birds will respond very well to the selection process, and wil turn into what ever you select for over a period of time. 1 sacrifice in the breeding pen could ruin teh entire project.

As usual you are a wonderful source of information. I am hoping with starting with a large gene pool I can get where I need to be within 8 - 10 years. Some of the accidents I have had with cochin and ameraucana crosses were close to the end design in the first generation. The goal is that I can stabilize the traits and type to breed true. As I am not focusing on color this will leave the breed open for a wide variance in color but I am only using blue, black, white and splash in my program with a barred and silver laced thrown in for ????. The biggest problem is the decision on the leg color and comb but choosing the blue legs and single comb is a personal choice, since I like these traits more then the yellow legs and pea comb. I do not mind yellow legs or pea combs but prefer the other more. I guess that is what is good about custom breeding for the traits you want but it can be complicated as well. Since I decided to go giant cochin with the standard size ameraucanas these are going to end up big heavy birds, so they can be good to use as dual purpose birds with a docile personality. The plucking would not be fun unless you have an automatic plucker. Of course you all know I would not be eating any of my birds.

 

[upcdayz]

Quote:
Those are helpful photos. Thanks NanaKat! I've always liked those colors and your chickens sport them well.

 

[okracefan]

Man you guys are really making me miss my Blue and Lav. Cochins that I had.