Splash Marans hens, do I need a splash roo?

[kathyinmo]

Forgive my ignorance. I just can't grasp this genetics stuff!
I have 2 splash marans hens. Do I have to have a splash marans roo, to get all splash offspring?

 

[amazondoc]

Yes.

Splash x splash = 100% splash offspring
splash x blue = 50% blue, 50% splash offspring
splash x black = 100% blue offspring

ETA: BUT -- it's often hard to tell whether "splash" birds are actually true "splash", or whether they are actually something like splash coppers or splash birchens. If you see any patterns turning up in the offspring, you'll know that your splash hens were hiding something!

 

[kathyinmo]

Can you tell by my picture, if this is a true splash?

 

[amazondoc]

No. You'll have to look verrrrrry, verrrrry closely at the bird in person -- and even then you might not be able to tell for sure.

Did you get the bird from somebody who knows what they're doing?

 

[amazondoc]

Well -- if he had solid blue and solid black birds present when you bought these splashes, then you are probably safe. But if you didn't actually SEE solid black and blue birds, then there's some chance that your hens are actually splash copper. That isn't the end of the world -- it's just something to keep in mind when you breed them!