Old English color advice

[Gray Farms]

A friend of mine was wanting to breed blue columbian patterned birds this year. "White birds with blue rather than black in the hackles and tail." I'm limited in genetics knowledge to let you all know up front. But I recommended to him to breed a splash over his columbians thinking splash x black would make blues. I was wrong, they all hatched black. Where did I go wrong?

 

[Cyprus]

That doesn't make sense. Does he have a picture of each bird? The best I can come up with is that his splash was actually a kind of mottled.

 

[Gray Farms]

I saw them myself. He raises top quality Old English and has for decades. The splash he bought wasn't the best but he was indeed a splash.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

@The Moonshiner @nicalandia can ups guys lend your expertise?

 

[Cyprus]

Did he have any actual blue feathers in his pattern?
Perhaps he was an exchequer.

 

[Gray Farms]

Did he have any actual blue feathers in his pattern?
Perhaps he was an exchequer.

He was a splash "blue w/black"

 

[Cyprus]

He was a splash "blue w/black"

Then idk.

 

[CountryFlock]

I would agree that it’s a type of mottling. Maybe post pictures?

There’s no way a splash to a regular Columbian wouldn’t make blue.

Or maybe the chicks appear black? But in reality they will feather in blue?

 

[The Moonshiner]

All I can think is either the splash isn't a splash or the black chicks are really dark blue instead of black.

 

[Gray Farms]

I haven't actually seen the chicks. He just said they hatched all black. I'll see if I can get some pics. I've got to run up there to get a peacock he borrowed anyhow. Thanks guys