Waterfowl Projects

[Kevin565]

I see in the chicken section numerous color projects going on. However, I rarely hear of waterfowl projects. Is anyone working on such a project? What is your goal color?

 

[toadbriar]

Not terribly groundbreaking, but I'm thinking of developing blue-fawn in my Ancona flock. It came up naturally and I think it's pretty. Apricot wouldn't be far behind I guess. Anyhow I've got a few months to study up on whether I want to do that, or not.

Apart from that I'm trying to select for a bit more substance in my birds, make them a bit more appealing as dual-purpose.

 

[Nsampsel]

I saw someone working on Lavender Skovies...

 

[Oregon Blues]

I had a blue mossy saddleback gander hatched. That would have made a nice project to try to develop a new color, but we ate him.

It takes a lot of time and money to fix a new breed or a new color. I know a lot of people who are reducing their flocks right now due to the high cost of feed and the high cost of everything else.

If you are doing some casual occasional cross breeding, you are breeding mutts, regardless of what you want to call it. To develop something new. you must have clear goals and a lot of time and money. You must keep a lot of birds and do a lot of breeding to fix a trait. You would need separate breeding pens to control matings (more huge expense)

 

[toadbriar]

OregonBlues, what's 'mossy' mean in your context? And thank you for raising good points - mixing breeds isn't a fast-track to any sort of predictable result. Worst case, in six months I've got an egg pet and a new understanding of color genetics.

 

[duckyfromoz]

Here in Australia we have just had the 2nd edition of the Poultry Standards published- and sadly they have made a change to the cinnamon Runner- so right now I am contemplating starting over with them. Sadly it means the last two years I have spent was all for nothing as I will not be able to use the birds I have to recreate them to fit the standards and have a bird that I like the look of. Not too sure what I will do- it would be sad to loose such a rare breed- but with space limitations- I dont have the room for such a big project at this point in time.

 

[Oregon Blues]

OregonBlues, what's 'mossy' mean in your context?

"Mossy" is splotchy color on each individual feather and it is usually a laced feather. It's a defect, by the way, but very pretty.

Sorry, I had a photo of the blue mossy goose in my BYC folder and I can't seem to access it.

 

[Oregon Blues]

OK, let me try this:

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Hes beautiful blues! Should have sent him to me! Lol. I would have loved him!

 

[Oregon Blues]

Here in Australia we have just had the 2nd edition of the Poultry Standards published- and sadly they have made a change to the cinnamon Runner- so right now I am contemplating starting over with them. Sadly it means the last two years I have spent was all for nothing as I will not be able to use the birds I have to recreate them to fit the standards and have a bird that I like the look of. Not too sure what I will do- it would be sad to loose such a rare breed- but with space limitations- I dont have the room for such a big project at this point in time.

Oh my goodness, duckyfrom oz. That is awful. It causes so much difficulty when standards are changed.

I took a quick peek and it doesn't look like cinnamon is a recognized color in the USA.