Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

Hey Dennis, as long as we are discussing genetics, any idea where these poofy crests came from in your nieces’ Silkie/Cochin hybrids? It’s awesome!! The father is the barred 3/4 Cochin/ 1/4 Silkie, and I’m not sure about the mothers. I have very little understanding of genetics, I just love them.❤

Blossom:
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Pepper:
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P.S: Blossom had a huge white head spot, so I thought for sure it was a cockerel, but now I just don’t know. I also think “his” mother was the dark gray Granny Silkie. Any thoughts? Thanks!❤
I'm not as confident talking about the genetics of crests. It seems like the gene for crests in Legbars is a single gene that is partially dominant, as a cross with only one copy (the olive eggers for ex) has a small crest, but almost always some crest, whereas the full legbar pullets have great crests, but not nearly as large as crests on polish and silkies. So, there must be multiple genes with silkie cresting. Are some dominant or partially dominant? I really don't know. There are probably answers out there, as chicken genetics are pretty well studied.

Funny how the "barnyard mixes" often create some very nice birds. I've seen some gorgeous chickens running around the farm. The problem is, how could you reproduce those neat birds? They are unique and serendipitous, but as a breeder a bit frustrating, which is the main reason that "breeders" look down on them so often. I'm always afraid someone will show me a pic and say "make me some of those" -- and I never could.

You do have some neat birds in that group. If you eventually selectively breed them for traits you like, there is no reason you could not get a fixed strain of bantams that have the qualities you value most.
 
Been cleaning and testing incubators the last few days. Need to but some parts to get them all working. Then I really need to sell some of them. Empty incubators are a weird form of temptation . . .
Noooo don't get rid of your incubators. We want you to keep developing new projects! What happened to sex linked ameraucanas...
 
I think I'm going to reduce my flock this year, I think dramatically. It's becoming more of a hassle than it should be taking care of everyone. I don't really get to spend time out there with the flock much anymore between work and my Etsy shop. Probably the first livestock swap of the year, I'll be taking a bunch with me. I'll be keeping my quad of orpingtons for sure, probably 8 silkies (maybe more, they're little), a trio or quad of ameraucanas, a couple special birds (Ana-SPR, Nigel- Polish, and Sunshine- African goose), and MAYBE a quad of my blue egg laying silkie project birds. Of course, all the turkeys have to stay and the muscovy pair since I love the duck and DH loves the drake lol. This is the plan at the moment.... we'll see what ACTUALLY happens.
 
Noooo don't get rid of your incubators. We want you to keep developing new projects! What happened to sex linked ameraucanas...
Each cabinet incubator (GQF and Dickeys) holds 288 chicken eggs. I own 5 and a friend has loaned me 2 and will be loaning me one more. That is a little over 2300 eggs if they were all filled. Too many by anyone's account . . .
I expect to sell 3 or 4 of them this year. Depends on what the demand is. Not a lot of people looking seriously so far. Only getting wacky low-ball offers I just ignore. Craigslist has a bunch of weird people that hang out there. Will post of Facebook when I get at least one tested and ready to go.
 

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