I finally put my Buff Sport cockerel who just turned 6 months old in with my White hen. He was raised by a friend who is a master at conditioning birds. I am very lucky to have him. And he is going no where. Being a Buff Sport means I can use him with Buff hens too. I also have his Brother who is a Buff that carries the White gene too.
In with this boy is the Exchequer pullet and my true legit Mottled hen. I was reading on another site how the mottleds are suppose to have a "V" shape of White on the tips of their. And it was a Cochin thread, where the Cochins are not being given full credit for their Mottleds being judged as Mottleds since their feathers are so wide it does not make a perfect "V" on the wing tips. The same can be said for any Orpingtons. This Mottled hen has been bred and is now in with my Buff Sport to see what my pop out.
A blurry pic but does show this fella has a nice full round front.
Speaking of nice full round front, my Mottled is a good example of that. And a close up of the White hen and her nice size head.
I really like this Buffs tail. he has one wing feather that is half White and he may get a crack at my White hen in the future.
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I have 5 Buff Sports. And have one more younger cockerel. But this fella is nice and large. And is crowing and dancing. So i hope he makes something White with my hen. But she has taken to going broody. So I have to pull out the garbage can outta the pen during the day. Any egg in that pen she covers. Hopefully she is still layin.
Nice looking sport there Bill and Jeremy, ya know I love them English Blues!!
OK opinion time. I have narrowed down to 2 cockerels from the FIVE that I had. Only 2 pullets in that hatch. SO these two boys were a september hatch. Tried to get side and chestshots but of course boy number one wouldn't cooperate with chest shot so its a bit blurry. ...... Fire away!
COCKEREL #1
COCKEREL #2 - I have not noticed this guy carrying his wings like this but hopefully it was becasue it was hot and he was avoiding me. I'm gonna have to look again tomorrow. Hope this isn't his natureal wing set..... surely I would have noticed??.....
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Thanks for the nice words. He is from the secretary of the Central Indiana Show. Joyce has a mix of Hoosier hatchery and Catalpa Farms lines. I guess Norm had some smut in the tail many years ago and eliminated it by using a White to clean it up. Now years later that gene has weaseled into two of Joyce's Buffs and made some nice Buff Sports.
They both have something to bring to the table far as good traits. I like the broader chest on number 2, and like the color and top end on number one. IF I had to choose, I would first use number one. As long as the pullets have a nice broad and deep chest he offers a great even color and I like the longer back. number 2 offers the broader chest, the color is a bit off compared to the 1st boy.
Thanks Bill. I am a very visual person and really need someone to point things out and say this is right and this is wrong. I can usually pic the very obvious stuff, but..... I need someone to hold my hand.... Thanks
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You know the best way to find out is show em both and ask a judge after the show what he thinks. That is why I usually take a bunch of my young ones come fall to these shows and just ask. Last fall the judge I asked like a Buff cockerel who had uneven color but had the broader chest and nice long back with the wider rear. Look at their tails from the butt end and see which has the broader tail and go with him.