Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[Johnn]

I think she is forgetting the fact that if I didnt take those eggs from the primary school then she wouldn't be alive!

 

[littlechicklet]

Correct. True blacks have red or "gold" in them to enhance the black. Blues should not have this gene, they'll have a lack of it or what is known as the "silver" gene. Misunderstanding that is why there are so many blues leaking red and gold. People have bred true blacks to their blues and that shouldn't be done.

As I am new to this I have never seen a true black line of Orps. All my blacks have come from blues. All my blacks show lacing in their feathers in the correct light which I think is good for blues. Another thing if I understand correctly due to the red/gold in the blacks breeding it is difficult to keep the red from "bleeding" through...I guess its a give and take no matter the color. Always a gamble when you cross lines of an undesirable trait popping out. I will see in the Spring what I get when I roll the dice.

 

[Samuel Shirley]

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As I am new to this I have never seen a true black line of Orps.  All my blacks have come from blues.  All my blacks show lacing in their feathers in the correct light which I think is good for blues.  Another thing if I understand correctly due to the red/gold in the blacks breeding it is difficult to keep the red from "bleeding" through...I guess its a give and take no matter the color.  Always a gamble when you cross lines of an undesirable trait popping out.  I will see in the Spring what I get when I roll the dice.

I too have never seen a pure black Orpington line. Most of my blacks are from blues too and if anyone could show some pics of the ideal typed orp. Or a true black I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[delisha]

Quote: I had no idea you should not bred blacks to blues

 

[littlechicklet]

I had no idea you should not bred blacks to blues

x2! I am also curious if you take blacks only from breeding blues how long would it take breeding those blacks together before it would be an all black line? or does this not happen? I mean will they always carry the genetics from the blues or will selective breeding eliminate or at the very least suppress them?

 

[lualshannon]

So nice to see your photos again, and read the stories of the mischief they get themselves into. The little white pullet is lovely!!

 

[Johnn]

So nice to see your photos again, and read the stories of the mischief they get themselves into. The little white pullet is lovely!!

Thanks

 

[galanie]

Correct. True blacks have red or "gold" in them to enhance the black. Blues should not have this gene, they'll have a lack of it or what is known as the "silver" gene. Misunderstanding that is why there are so many blues leaking red and gold. People have bred true blacks to their blues and that shouldn't be done.

As I am new to this I have never seen a true black line of Orps.  All my blacks have come from blues.  All my blacks show lacing in their feathers in the correct light which I think is good for blues.  Another thing if I understand correctly due to the red/gold in the blacks breeding it is difficult to keep the red from "bleeding" through...I guess its a give and take no matter the color.  Always a gamble when you cross lines of an undesirable trait popping out.  I will see in the Spring what I get when I roll the dice.

You should absolutely use blacks that have come from blues if you are going to breed a black to a blue. But there are lines of "true blacks" that have intentionally been bred with the "gold" or "red" gene to enhance the black and these should not be used in breeding blues. I'm not sure if everyone understands what I mean. I got some "true blacks" from HinkJC a few years ago. The beetle green shine was definitely more pronounced than that of a black from blues.

Here is young George at 8 months. My plan was to breed him to blues but then I learned of the difference and didn't do it. He is a true black. It was impossible to not have the green sheen show up like this unless he was in deep shade.

Now that I think of it, this shot was taken in the shade. Not deep deep shade but shade anyway, no sunlight is directly hitting him here.

As you can see, the sheen is green, almost no purple to it at all. Purple in the sheen is not desired in a "true black." But will show in a black that came from breeding blues. And it's nothing to worry about in that case really IMO, it just means there isn't much or any of the "red" gene in there which is good if you're breeding blues.

By breeding only those blues that do not have red leakage it is entirely possible to breed it out.

I want to clarify that I am no expert at breeding blues. But I did once upon a time want to do it and gathered lots of information on the topic. I gave away my blues when I moved to the country 2 months ago and now only have buffs, albeit 3 are hatchery birds. They're my old girls that I can't bear to part with.

 

[aveca]

x2! I am also curious if you take blacks only from breeding blues how long would it take breeding those blacks together before it would be an all black line? or does this not happen? I mean will they always carry the genetics from the blues or will selective breeding eliminate or at the very least suppress them?

Chicken genetics are so all over the place...things will pop up way down the line ..I have a feeling somone bred the whites I have into blks with with what you are talking about - gold gene....there is a very good old book free for your kindle or nook at cornell free library called hubbards poultry secrets..he was so knowlagable and knew what to breed back to what and if you do it wrong you will get this...a great read for any orpington owner..After I hatch some whites, and buffs, I am going to borrow the brit hen and hatch a patch of white over her to see what happens..they carry gold gene but silver might be under there..Vickie will kind of help me watch this and see and coach me along..harry pops me a few tips too.

I have a freind who did exactly what Sarah just said and bred the blk with gold gene to blue and holy brown leakage!! the offspring were a mess..not sure how long it would take to clean that up or if he even could..the type was very good on the birds but the color was horrid...

My friend who has been breeding top australorp for many years. for the first time he got a DQ...the judge found a stub, he said he never ever looked for a stubb because in 40 plus years he had never seen one..he was a little shocked when the judge showed him...so things like this kick up ..he sits on champion row just about everywhere he goes with those birds.. interesting how something can just pop up like that..as for me, I need to clean up some yellowing in some whites..i am afraid of using the blacks, the right black would do amazing thigns, but wich blk is the correct black?

 

[galanie]

This is Charlie, a splash roo that I had. He and his sisters had no leakage, so I'm sure they had "silver" and no "red" or "gold."

Had I bred the girls to the black, it would have been a huge mistake. But life led me in a different direction so I don't breed blues as I had once planned anyway.

I don't think you can get a "true" black from blues unless those blues had the red gene introduced at some point. Even at that, it'd be a whole lot easier to just get a few true blacks than to try it.