Washingtonians

[Chicken Rustler]

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OK so is there any way to prevent this or to do to help once it happens ???

 

[Rainwolf]

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no color standard but there is a size standard.

 

[Illia]

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I'll keep him through the sumer at least to try and get some more eggs to hatch. but I don't know much about color genetics.. if the motled is a female what would the pair throw?

They would give you mottled splits (mottling is recessive, however in F1 offspring I believe it can show up, but lightly) that look sort of like brown-reds (black bird with red on the neck, and red on the saddle and shoulders if it is a male) but is just red leaking through the black.

 

[Rainwolf]

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OK so is there any way to prevent this or to do to help once it happens ???

preventing is to bring the humidity back up. I do this by adding hot water mist via the spray bottle. add wet sponges/rags anything that will help disperse water into the air in the bator.

I have "helped" by breaking the membrane around the head area but thats a big risk as they damage easy.

This is common in quails/game bird hatchings since they need high humidity at hatch... chickens can take low humidity hatchings a lot better then quails can.

 

[4cats3kids1hubby2many]

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He IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS...I want him....but, sorry my girls are kept busy with Tyson and I don't have the heart to give him the boot.

 

[Rainwolf]

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I'll keep him through the sumer at least to try and get some more eggs to hatch. but I don't know much about color genetics.. if the motled is a female what would the pair throw?

They would give you mottled splits (mottling is recessive, however in F1 offspring I believe it can show up, but lightly) that look sort of like brown-reds (black bird with red on the neck, and red on the saddle and shoulders if it is a male) but is just red leaking through the black.

So probably not a good pair to breed? or is it something I can work with?

 

[Illia]

It will take a couple generations of crossing back to the parents to get either Wheaten or Mottled again.

So, I'd say wait until you have more Seramas.

 

[Rainwolf]

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darn... guess I'll have to watch for that egg auction that everyone missed again

 

[rainplace]

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Happy dance!

 

[rainplace]

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I use the deep litter method with ducks which many consider to be messier than chickens. I lay down fresh bedding and DE once a week. A few times I've had to do it twice a week when I've had more ducks in the duck house. DE dries out the urine, desiccates any bug eggs (like flies) and poop, and neutralizes ammonia. People are amazed when I tell them how long it has been since I've cleaned out my duck house since there is very little smell.

On the other hand, ducks are not as vulnerable to as many diseases as chickens since their internal temperature is higher. I plan on using this same method with my new chickens. I will however have a board under their perch that I will scrape off weekly.