Some Red in Hackles?

[rodriguezpoultry]

Here I was, all excited about a specific pullet who is looking fairly nice. She's got a great tail angle, nice body, nice eye color.

Then I find it.

Red leakage in the hackles. Even with her beautiful green body sheen, it sticks out like a sore thumb. It was not there when she was younger. I do have a Marans that I purchased quite a ways back but that pullet is MUCH smaller and had much more coppering to her hackles.

Should I even bother using her? None of her siblings or parents had red leakage. Her leg feathering is so darn nice too...I'm trying to talk myself out of keeping her I suppose. I'm hoping to purchase some better hens and maybe a cockerel or two at the show this weekend, but it just depends on the birds that are available.

Neck photo:
No, she doesn't have a beard.

Full Body:

The decision is killing me...

 

[cottagegarden]

Drat..such a pretty girl.
If you can avoid it and have better options, don't breed her.
That being said..I have had two diff breeds from top..top breeders that had leaking so it isnt exactly uncommon, but never a welcome surprise.
Certainly dont breed back to the line.
If you cross with a unrelated, clean male you could get clear chicks, just keep aware of you know the gene is there, then,
and crossing the chicks may make it pop up again.