Thread formerly known as Hatch day is today

[DutchChic]

I'll keep everyone posted.

The other half of my birthday eggs (white runners) went into the bator yesterday.

I need someone who's good with runner color genetics. White on white = ? Do I need to worry about recessive genes?

Also Blue on Blue? I need to get a photo of my super-straight, super-tall free blue runner drake this weekend. I'm thinking I might put blue runners in one breeding pen and khaki campbells in the other for a fall hatch. I sold four ducklings and got three adult and teenage ducks for free. Status quo?

Blue on Blue will give you a mix of blue/black/silver

 

[Kevin565]

Reminds me of a joke I've heard.....

Wife and hubby sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast.
Wife says, "I really wish I had larger breasts".
Hubby says, "Why don't you try rubbing toilet paper between your boobs?"
Wife says, "Do you really think that will help?"
Hubby says, "I don't know, but it sure helped your butt!"

 

[Iain Utah]

Reminds me of a joke I've heard.....

Wife and hubby sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast.
Wife says, "I really wish I had larger breasts".
Hubby says, "Why don't you try rubbing toilet paper between your boobs?"
Wife says, "Do you really think that will help?"
Hubby says, "I don't know, but it sure helped your butt!"

 

[Kevin565]

 

[DutchChic]

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Kevin that's too funny, and oh so perfect.

Julie, you going to let the Canada goose try out for the Rockettes?

DG... I wouldn't put a grey with a buff dewlap no more than I would put a utility (production) Toulouse with dewlaps. Both just genetically muddy the off spring and serves no purpose. Grey x grey and buff x buff selecting for depth of keel and proper lines. Utility/production should be kept together so not to reduce the proper look of a Dewlap.


The goals of a breeding set up shouldn't be to pump out high numbers, but to work towards a goal using the SOP as a guide. Dropping a utility bird in with a dewlap goes completely against this. It muddies the gene pool and creates off spring not true to the breed.

(example)we sold off a large number of Sebastopol goslings this spring, only keeping 3 from our white/splash breeders. The rest didn't have the round heads, or lines even as goslings to keep and grow out for breeding. They will make nice pets for their owners, many (some are smooth) will have very nice curls too, but not something worth keeping here and feeding and putting money into for breeding.

Out of the three we kept back 2 are growing very nicely, the third we are watching. We also kept all of Peaches & McGraws goslings to evaluate them this fall. Right now I know we have three who have very nice heads, waiting for their feathering to come in. end

Now trying to create a new color requires years of dedication, detailed records and lots of space and funding to keep multiple generations culling those that don't fit the look. Not something a hobby keeper would be set up for, or have the large stock to concure. New colors are fun, but best left to those who have the time, money and space to do it properly. Otherwise all we are creating are a bunch of mutt mixed bred birds.

 

[Iain Utah]

Here is a color calculator showing the results of breeding buff/grey together. According to the calculator,

If you breed buff gander to grey goose, you get buff females and grey boys that will carry the recessive buff gene.
If you breed grey gander to buff goose, you get all grey babies, but the boys will carry the recessive buff gene.
Then if you breed the recessive buff gene gander offspring to a buff goose, you get all sorts of splits with those babies.

http://kippenjungle.nl/kruisingFlex...C;RP;Blue;Buff;Lilac;,C;RP;Silver;Buff;Cream;

 

[CelticOaksFarm]

Yes but you don't ever want to cross a production grade bird into say a dewlap flock. That serves no purpose. The only reason to cross a grey dewlap into a buff flock is if the grey has outstanding size and form and you use it to improve the buff off spring. This would mean you are retaining all off spring from that project and culling and crossing back. It is also not as simple as a single generation cross and it's done.

Again not something the hobbiest is usually financially or space wise prepared to do. It is also why when someone as a hobbiest wants a breeding pair or trio of breed X they are encouraged to buy adults or well grown out juveniles. This way they are starting with quality breeding stock. If you buy eggs to hatch and young (spring) hatchlings you run the risk of a pet quality flock (which are FINE) but not by any means a breeding flock.

Now with that said breeding utility stock (such as Erin's or the Manheim Toulouse) is good for those who wish to butcher since that is their purpose. Those birds shouldn't be crossed over to Dewlap though.

Just as the Khaki Campbell flock we run is a utility flock kept for egg production only, not for show so they may or may not meet standard. They are offered as utility though and will never be cross with SOP Khaki since that would be damaging to the better gene pool.

If you want to breed, you start with the very best stock you can afford to do so. If you cannt afford quality stock for breeding, and can only afford hatchery stock or stock from a backyard breeder don't intend to start a pure breed breeding flock with them. They make great pets, but shouldn't be confused with breeding quality or show quality.

Also don't buy eggs or hatchling from show or breeding quality stock and think all the off spring will be usable for breeding. For every 10-15 hatchlings you might get lucky and have 1 keeper worth breeding. Setting up a breeding flock requires hours of reading, commitment, time, and space and funds with a well set goal for what you wish to produce or accomplish.

And now I'll stop going on and on cause for most this is boring and doesn't pertain to their birds.

 

[Seashell1728]

Reminds me of a joke I've heard.....

Wife and hubby sitting at the kitchen table having breakfast.
Wife says, "I really wish I had larger breasts".
Hubby says, "Why don't you try rubbing toilet paper between your boobs?"
Wife says, "Do you really think that will help?"
Hubby says, "I don't know, but it sure helped your butt!"

 

[Iain Utah]

I find it very interesting, Celtic!

But onto another saga.... this morning while feeding, my bachelor flock ran all the way from pond down in horse pasture back up to the coop and literally crawled their way over the chicken wire fence to get back into the coop yard. How the heck do I keep these guys separated??