What Rooster should I pair with my pure Lavender Orp hens?!

[Brianna245]

I am looking to get into breeding healthy, ideal lavender Orpington chickens. I have two beautiful 6 month old pure Lavender hens, who hatched from both Lavender parents. I have read breeding two Lavenders can introduce poor feathers and health, so a lot of times people breed back to a split ( 1 black and 1 Lavender parent) rooster. What I am wanting advise on: does it really improve the health/aesthetic of the chicken, and will I still hatch out at least half true Lavender chicks from the split/pure pair?

I most importantly want to raise healthy chickens, and keep the Lavender bloodline pure enough, and not to muddle it up. Any advise is MUCH appreciated.

thanks

 

[NatJ]

What I am wanting advise on: does it really improve the health/aesthetic of the chicken, and will I still hatch out at least half true Lavender chicks from the split/pure pair?

A split/pure pair should produce about 50% Lavender chicks and 50% split chicks.

I do not know the answer to the other part of your question.

 

[12bairds]

I too have heard that homozygous lavender tends toward feathering problems. But as I understand it, any lavender chicken has to be homozygous. Can anyone explain why it's a good idea to avoid a pure lavender line, even though all animals who show lavender are pure lavender.