single comb BLRW

[turtleblossom]

I recently bought 25 large fowl BLRW from a local breeder. They have been healthy and hardy so far (i think they are 6 wks old), and I am very pleased with them. However, I had 5 of the 25 end up with single combs. I understand that this happens on a regular basis with Whyandotts, but is 5 out of 25 a high number? I have not contacted the breeder, as I don't want to seem like I am complaining - I love my Why's. But I do want some honest opinions.

Also, if anyone would be interested, the SC chicks are for sale. I have 2 pair, both with a blk laced cockrel and blu laced pullet, plus one extra, but I can't remember what it is.

 

[Krys109uk]

Did you buy them as chicks or eggs? Really the single combed chicks cannot properly be called wyandottes because wyandottes do not have single combs.

5 out of 25 having single combs would suggest that a large percentage of the breeder's BLW are heterozygous for non rose comb (If all his birds were het non rose comb one would expect in the region of 25% non rose comb).

 

[blackdotte]

I read some years ago that in US commercial Wyandotte flocks, were every single comb bird was removed, they still produced an average if 19% single comb chicks.
David

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

Hi Turtleblossom....did those chicks come from me? If so I am sorry you got so many single combs...I totally didnt notice them or your wouldnt have gotten any. I have only one single comb hen in that breeding pen and in a normal hatch dont get but one single comb every 20-25 chicks so I am kinda at a loss for 5 being in there, i keep a good eye out for the single comb and try to keep that under control.

I have always had a few single combs in my BLRW and have never eliminated them completely from my flock or tried very hard to ...for some reason the single comb tend to have the best type and color.....old wyandotte breeders claim having the single comb gene lurking around in your flock will keep your fertility high, I dont know about that but it is something I try to keep under control and normaly dont have any trouble with it getting out of hand.

Jerry..stealing my wifes user name while she is asleep...

 

[turtleblossom]

Jerry (and wife), yes these are your chicks. I just love them! I didn't notice the single combs until a few weeks ago. They combs were so small when they were day old chicks that there was no way of picking the single combed ones out. I also have one or two who I think are het. single/rose comb. Their combs are definatly rose shaped, but with a raised portion running down the middle. But I have many more that are just bee-utiful! I think I ended up with a high percentage of splash birds (yay for me!), but their colors are still developing. I will get pics up as soon as I can.

 

[Dread Pirate Roberts]

Of the 15 GLW peeps I've purchased from three different hatcheries, 3 have had single combs.

Of the 10 SLW peeps from two different hatcheries, no single combs.

Things that make ya go "hmmm..."

 

[Krys109uk]

One can get rid of single combs, simple dimple..... one cannot however find nice typey wyandottes around every corner.

Knowing whose birds the OP was posting about I think I'd sooner have the 20% single combs, than 100% rose comb on possibly less nice birds.

 

[Mrs. Turbo]

I dont have much problems with single combs in my SLW, and like Krys said it is easy enough to eliminate. Getting good type on the BLRW has been the hardest thing I have ever done....I thought color would be a problem but really hasnt. Heck SLW are easy compared to the BLRW...all the hard work has already been done with the SLW..

Turtleblossom I will be glad to replace those single comb with rose combs for you...I have never had any that were single/rose comb, but I did introduce a new bloodline to my BLRW this year and I will have to keep an eye out for new faults that are bound to show up....seems to happen the first few years when I introduce new blood. The good will out weight the bad though...this years crop have much better combs and are have more size than last years bunch.

 

[Rootball]

Just keep using them to breed......Rose comb(RR or Rr) is dominant to single comb(rr). so offspring of rose comb and single comb will be rose combed. keep good breeding records. they will be coming out again in your birds because some of the phenotypically rosecombed birds must be Rr so if they are bred to each other they will produce some more single combs.

 

[Krys109uk]

Using the single comb birds for breeding seems like rather bad plan. It would have all the offspring carrying at least one non rose comb gene & if the bird it is being bred with just happens to be heterozygous then, all things being equal, there will be 50% wastage from pure non rose combed offspring before even thinking about culls for other reasons.