Silver-Laced Breed for the Heat?

[HeatherKellyB]

Now I'm wondering how one *would* go about introducing lacing into Australorps.

@RoostersAreAwesome @Amer

Both of them have the knowledge to help with that. I'm always amazed with the information they share

 

[3KillerBs]

Have you looked into Spitzhaubens?

Edited to add: They're not silver laced, but I know I've noticed multiple breeders of Spitz in NC. At least one of these breeders does a lot of crossing with Spitz. I have one supposed Spitz, but something clearly happened for me to end up hatching the bird I ended up with

They're spangled, not laced, right?

How are they for heat tolerance? And what size eggs do they lay?

 

[3KillerBs]

@RoostersAreAwesome @Amer

Both of them have the knowledge to help with that. I'm always amazed with the information they share

I shouldn't even try until I've got my blues going decently, but I can't help being curious.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

They're spangled, not laced, right?

How are they for heat tolerance? And what size eggs do they lay?

Yes, they are spangled.
Due to their smaller size, from what I've learned, they do well in our type of climate. My supposed Spitz lays a large white egg. I really like how they're crested but it's not a vision impairing crest.

 

[3KillerBs]

Yes, they are spangled.
Due to their smaller size, from what I've learned, they do well in our type of climate. My supposed Spitz lays a large white egg. I really like how they're crested but it's not a vision impairing crest.

On the "think about it" list then.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Now I'm wondering how one *would* go about introducing lacing into Australorps.

Depends. Would you want a purebred australorp with lacing or just a bird who shares the heat-hardiness and body shape of the australorp but has lacing? (For example, how important is leg and egg color to you?)

You could probably get lacing in two generations, either by crossing the australorp to a laced bird then crossing the offspring back to the laced bird, or crossing the offspring together. You would then have to decide how crisp you want the lacing and how many australorp traits you want to have. If you aim for very good lacing, you won’t want to use a hatchery wyandotte.

Also, there’s actually two types of lacing that exist— black tail lacing (partridge- based) and what I call “sebright lacing” (birchen based). Wyandottes and cochins have black tail lacing. Sebrights and polish have the other type, which is easier to establish because it’s based on birchen.

 

[3KillerBs]

Depends. Would you want a purebred australorp with lacing or just a bird who shares the heat-hardiness and body shape of the australorp but has lacing? (For example, how important is leg and egg color to you?)

Good question.

I'd love to be able to add a few silver-laced birds to my mixed flock without having to watch them suffer in distress when it's 95F with 95% humidity -- which is why I initially asked about a heat-tolerant breed with that coloration.

I really like my Australorps and think that it's a shame that, other then the blues, they don't come in more color varieties.

What I like about Australorps is a shape that fits my mental image of the word "Chicken", the consistent large and XL eggs, their rapid maturity, and their fitness for both my climate and my management system.

They weren't actually my first choice. I'd intended to get Delawares when I went to the farm store in 2020. But the hatchery didn't send any so I ended up with Blue Australorps, a California White, and SLW's in place of the Delawares I'd planned on having and really fell for the Australorps.

If I tried to created a heat-tolerant, Australorp-adjacent Silver-Laced bird I wouldn't want to lose the things I like about said Australorps.

 

[Amer]

Yes, Sebrights are the original laced chicken. Laced Leghorns exist but not in the states. And that’s all.

 

[Amer]

You could cross laced Orpingtons with brown Leghorns to eventually develop a laced Leghorn or laced mixed breed.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

They're spangled, not laced, right?

How are they for heat tolerance? And what size eggs do they lay?

Mine lay like Champs (normal standard egg size at least 4 or 5 times a week) and have done good during the summers in Montana.

Spangled, so not at eye catching though