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Okay, so the previous post showed regular Sussex pullets from Ideal Hatchery, and showed how the amount of white can vary. Now I'm going to use the pics to help show what degree of white I'm going for in Alohas.
Here's a pic showing "lesser white" which is OK for Sussex and Swedish currently:
LESSER WHITE - as demonstrated by a pure Sussex chick from Ideal Hatchery (above pic)
LESSER WHITE - as demonstrated by a 1/2 Sussex, 1/4 Orpington, 1/4 Aloha hen, "Nui" (below pic)
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Next, MODERATE WHITE - a heavier degree of white mottling, that is currently seen in some pure Sussex.
ABOVE - Stromberg's Hatchery Sussex hen, showing moderate to heavy white for a Sussex.
BELOW - Sussex pullet from Ideal showing moderate white spotting.
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Last, EXTREME WHITE - what I am breeding for in Alohas. Amount of white rarely, if ever seen, in any pure Sussex or Swedish:
Above Pics: Aloha hen of Sussex breeding, showing Extreme White mottling.
Note that white extends all the way up neck, across back, and into tail.
Anyway, now I have pics of the whole spectrum!!! The above hen is NOT a "perfect" Aloha, she has the darker (Sussex Mahogany) base color and lacks yellow legs.
However, you can see how *even if we did not change anything here* that she does NOT look like the other "regular" Sussex hens. And yes, there are rare Sussex hens who get more white as they age, so at five years they might look kind of like her, but this is her amount of white at FIVE MONTHS. She is just about ready to start laying.
Anyway, just look at the amount of white spotting. This is about as "perfect" 50/50 blend as I could possibly hope for, and illustrates the ideal amount of spotting I'd like to see on Alohas, regardless of the base color being dark brown, gold, etc.
As this hen ages, she may grow more white, but that is OK with Alohas. Ideal blend is half white half color, but anything from 40% white up to 80% white would be fine.
Here's a pic showing "lesser white" which is OK for Sussex and Swedish currently:
LESSER WHITE - as demonstrated by a pure Sussex chick from Ideal Hatchery (above pic)
LESSER WHITE - as demonstrated by a 1/2 Sussex, 1/4 Orpington, 1/4 Aloha hen, "Nui" (below pic)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next, MODERATE WHITE - a heavier degree of white mottling, that is currently seen in some pure Sussex.
ABOVE - Stromberg's Hatchery Sussex hen, showing moderate to heavy white for a Sussex.
BELOW - Sussex pullet from Ideal showing moderate white spotting.
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Last, EXTREME WHITE - what I am breeding for in Alohas. Amount of white rarely, if ever seen, in any pure Sussex or Swedish:
Above Pics: Aloha hen of Sussex breeding, showing Extreme White mottling.
Note that white extends all the way up neck, across back, and into tail.
Anyway, now I have pics of the whole spectrum!!! The above hen is NOT a "perfect" Aloha, she has the darker (Sussex Mahogany) base color and lacks yellow legs.
However, you can see how *even if we did not change anything here* that she does NOT look like the other "regular" Sussex hens. And yes, there are rare Sussex hens who get more white as they age, so at five years they might look kind of like her, but this is her amount of white at FIVE MONTHS. She is just about ready to start laying.
Anyway, just look at the amount of white spotting. This is about as "perfect" 50/50 blend as I could possibly hope for, and illustrates the ideal amount of spotting I'd like to see on Alohas, regardless of the base color being dark brown, gold, etc.
As this hen ages, she may grow more white, but that is OK with Alohas. Ideal blend is half white half color, but anything from 40% white up to 80% white would be fine.
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