Surprise, surprise in the hatcher

[tony garza]

Hi,

I have a small flock of California leghorns. They were mixed with other breeds but I seperated them. I used the eggs during the first three weeks apart and then started collecting the eggs for incubation. I collected 30 eggs and placed them in the incubator. Today, the first chicks hatched and to my surprise there was an almost all black chick. OK, I don't even have an all black rooster. But I was figuring since the california leghorns have some black spots, could this chick be a throw back to some black rooster/hen when the california leghorns were developed??? Inquiring minds want to know !!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony G

 

[Happy Chooks]

What other roosters do you have? Sounds to me like another roo's guys were still holding up the fort.

 

[tony garza]

The only other roosters around are a buff orphington and a mixed breed red/black. I waited the three weeks and never saw another rooster in the pen. The pen is completely enclosed so nothing could have gotten in. Oh well...............I'll try it again. It's now been about two months since they were seperated. BTW, I got another mostly black chick. So much for Ideal's chicks. The hens and the rooster are from last year's Ideal order for leghorns.

Tony G

 

[tammyd57]

From what I understand, hens can stay fertile from one rooster for longer than 3 weeks, up to a month or so. Looks like your 'mixed breed red/black' roo may be the baby daddy.