I was thinking that too. It looks like a really dark brown red coloration, so you will get there either way using a black male or a black female. Keep in mind, that black hides a lot, so when you start crossing with the hatch lots of colors may pop out, but you should get some brown red looking birds and then it is just a matter of crossing and cleaning them up. It will take some time.
I like that. They didn't know he couldn't touch them. lol
I've had a few of what u describe. Mine turned a blood red with ageI was thinking that too. It looks like a really dark brown red coloration, so you will get there either way using a black male or a black female. Keep in mind, that black hides a lot, so when you start crossing with the hatch lots of colors may pop out, but you should get some brown red looking birds and then it is just a matter of crossing and cleaning them up. It will take some time. I know I showed him before, but this blue has the similar pattern you describe. The red is so dark and not complete as a stag, but I hope it will really come through later. It is hard to see in the pics, but there is red in the saddle and hackle.
Not sure I've seen a wheel bug before. May have and not noticed. These Chinese import stink bugs are a nightmare though. They get into everything. Any chicken that eats them will stay though. Some won't touch them.
Buddy I would give somebody my last dollar to get rid of them. My shed is full of them. Every fall they look for somewhere to spend the winter, my shed and my house. These pullets are still going strong eating them on the deck though so maybe there's hope.
Yeah I looked them up. I may have seen them but thought it was a different kind of stink bug. I was reading how big they get and I've never seen one that was 1.5 inches long.
