The Million Dollar Blue Rock Question

[BlackHackle]

Anything's possible (or at least most things are) so I'm sure we could bring the lacing in from somewhere

 

[LilJoe]

Anything's possible (or at least most things are) so I'm sure we could bring the lacing in from somewhere

Could black help? It brings the lacing out In Ameraucanas..

 

[sylviethecochin]

Could black help? It brings the lacing out In Ameraucanas..

I read that often, but I also read that it's really hard to find a black that introduces good lacing. From what I understand, unless the black has the lacing in the first place, it does nothing, and obviously, you can't see black lacing on a black background.

 

[nicalandia]

Anything's possible (or at least most things are) so I'm sure we could bring the lacing in from somewhere

For proper lacing you need Extended black, Melanotic, Pattern gene and Columbian, most black birds carry Extended black, Melanotic and pattern gene(Ml and Pg are linked to each other so they don't segregate independently) you will need to source Columbian, I've been told many times that show quality Barred rocks carry Columbian for a crisp barring, you could mate a Blue/Splash rooster to SQ Barred rocks and see if the pullets show good lacing

 

[BlackHackle]

For proper lacing you need Extended black, Melanotic, Pattern gene and Columbian, most black birds carry Extended black, Melanotic and pattern gene(Ml and Pg are linked to each other so they don't segregate independently) you will need to source Columbian, I've been told many times that show quality Barred rocks carry Columbian for a crisp barring, you could mate a Blue/Splash rooster to SQ Barred rocks and see if the pullets show good lacing

Would it help to use Columbian rocks as well?

 

[nicalandia]

Would it help to use Columbian rocks as well?

Columbian has no effect on homozygous black birds(E/E) but it does when E/eWh is present, you can confirm that with black sex linkes(RIRxBR) you see leakage, most Columbian rocks chicks I have seen look very much Wheaten, but some maybe partridge, E/eb may also show leakage, but it would be nice to see any lacing improvement even with leakage, that way you can breed back to pure E/E Bl/bl+

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If the lacing is lost it's lost. Hatch a hundred and see if any have a hint of it to work back up. If not then no getting it back without an outcross.

This is why it's been said you must always use a blue bird in matings. Very well laced birds will show in splash some but in general you can't see lacing in splash and certainly not in black. Do a black and splash mating by all means but don't forget to look for lacing in the offspring. Blue has lost much of it's luster with people forgetting to maintain the lace. It is indeed integral to the variety and must be maintained.

Black is used to darken the blue. When black to splash you'll get a range of blue. To keep a quality flock with most in proper slate blue you should almost always use a blue in mating. Work your flocks color by using two close to color blue that is in range of desired effect. Cross a splash to dark blue and black to light blue. Each is done with intent and need. Using best body type birds to mate you'll need to use a splash or black now and then.

I had blue Rocks for few years, had to pan out the flock when separated. When trying to get back birds from my stock found most were lost to predators and so on....is my first love of variety.