What are the trending breeds in your area right now?

[chickendreams24]

Yeah. That's an extreme case. But proof that we don't know what's all behind the lavender gene.
I'm breeding him to his black half sisters so that's probably the problem.
I wish I could just get rid of the lavenders. I don't like them. But some people in my family somehow can't be separated with them.
View attachment 1761118

He's very handsome and I totally understand not wanting to upset anyone.

Could you find some non-related blacks to breed him to?

Them being black should help the situation a little I would think. Have you hatched any of their chicks?

How many generations have been bred together in the line without fresh stock? Do you know?

 

[HuffleClaw]

I prefer not own a living lint ball. And the roosters are mean as spit.

I’ve never had an issue with an agressive silkie roo

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Yeah. That's an extreme case. But proof that we don't know what's all behind the lavender gene.
I'm breeding him to his black half sisters so that's probably the problem.
I wish I could just get rid of the lavenders. I don't like them. But some people in my family somehow can't be separated with them.
View attachment 1761118

Yes, thank you for sharing that article on the split feathers.

 

[chickendreams24]

Here in the PNW of Oregon, this year everyone wants:
Easter Eggers
Showgirls
& Brahmas
Last year Lavender or Self Blue was really popular in any breed they could get. After seeing the ragged feathers I think almost everyone jumped off that bandwagon in a hurry.

This is crazy to me literally none of my lavender or self blues have ever had ragged feathers except right before molt maybe from over breeding.

I have two lavender Orpington hens that are due for a molt and look a bit ragged but none of the others.

My porcelain D'uccle rooster wasn't (and he was hatchery)

My self blue oegb hen wasn't but I think her line was also breed with black.

My lavender Orpingtons from two lines(only have one hen left from one of the lines) weren't/aren't ragged either. Now one was bred with blacks but I know the other wasn't.

 

[danceswithronin]

Blue is my favorite variety, but I don't understand why people love lavender so much.

Guilty. I'm a sucker for lavender types and have a lavender Orp on order as we speak (along with a blue and a buff).

They just look magical to me. They make me think of marble and silver mink stoles. The color makes them look so luxuriously soft for some reason.

 

[Amer]

He's very handsome and I totally understand not wanting to upset anyone.

Could you find some non-related blacks to breed him to?

Them being black should help the situation a little I would think. Have you hatched any of their chicks?

How many generations have been bred together in the line without fresh stock? Do you know?

I actually find this conversation quite intriguing.
His parents are from different sellers, but technically related. One is Porcelain and one lavender blue. Both from Aubrey Webb, but the porcelain actually was bought by someone and raised for a while until I bought it in a trade of roosters. Both from Aubrey Webb.
So I honestly have no idea.
I'm hoping the lavender blue will stop eating her eggs so I can actually hatch some blues, like I got last year. The only reason I kept that lavender in the first place was I thought he might also be blue. Nope.
Once I get blue maybe I'll finally just sell those lavenders. Or I could keep breeding and get mottled.

 

[Amer]

This is crazy to me literally none of my lavender or self blues have ever had ragged feathers except right before molt maybe from over breeding.

I have two lavender Orpington hens that are due for a molt and look a bit ragged but none of the others.

My porcelain D'uccle rooster wasn't (and he was hatchery)

My self blue oegb hen wasn't but I think her line was also breed with black.

My lavender Orpingtons from two lines(only have one hen left from one of the lines) weren't/aren't ragged either. Now one was bred with blacks but I know the other wasn't.

Really? My porcelain d'Uccles were.

 

[Mybackyardpeepers]

I had four up until a few weeks ago and the only reason I rehomed them was to make more room, and because I will have several extra large standard fowl this year so I was afraid the size discrepancy would be dangerous for them. But they were really lovely birds, I'll probably hatch out some more. Mine were buff and white but I would love some partridge and blue splash silkies.

I plan to keep them in a separate coop/run next to my larger breeds.

 

[danceswithronin]

I plan to keep them in a separate coop/run next to my larger breeds.

I've since read from other people here that no matter the size of the hens, the senior ones will outrank the newcomers.

 

[Amer]

I've since read from other people here that no matter the size of the hens, the senior ones will outrank the newcomers.

My Silkies get along with them fine, because they don't care about rank.