what would be better for breeding next year

[jimmythechicken]

we have a pair right now but want to know would we be better to pick up 2 more hens or another pair.

we ar prob going to go to amys peacocks for birds about 4 hrs away an she has a great variaty of birds any suggestions on breeds debbie might like she loves the silver pied but already got on she like purple,anyone has a good pic of a camo male fanned out she wanted to see them to see if she likes them.

 

[Kev]

Best to see colors in person. Very often pictures don't do real justice to how colors look in person. For years I was never impressed with bronzes from pictures. Then I got two males and one female.. and WOW.. one of my favorite colors.

Depends on your goal as for 2 females or another pair. If you want purples, do need to get a purple male, unless you know your male is split for purple then can just get a purple hen to get purple chicks in both sexes. But if you don't know or he is not then you need to get a purple male. etc.

Amy's place will be a good place for you to see several colors in person before deciding....

 

[deerman]

Quote:
Kev , did you mean no reason to get a purple hen ???

Having a purple male will produce purple hens the first year.

Yes best to see some of the colors....myself I didn't like cameo after seeing them.......now the Bronze...just have to see one ...WOW....

One male can easy take care of 3 peahens...if 2nd pr ,you should pen them seperated.

Be nice if you knew if your SP was split to another color.

Remember most hens no matter their color ,with your male will produce blue looking chicks split to mother's color. except whites.

Plus SP is not a color, but a pattern. he will produce white eyes.

 

[jimmythechicken]

would they be ok all together till the spring i plan on building anotherb pen in the fall or spring i think we may just get another pair of like purple or maybe that bronze everyone loves then in 2 years we can breed the pied into the purple or bronze would that work.

 

[deerman]

Whats great about purple, you can get purple first year.

Purple pied X blue pied hen= 50 % pieds all purple females, blue males split purple. 25% whites with male split purple.


Purple pieds X white = 50% whites males split purple, 50% pieds males, blue pied split purple. females purple pieds.

 

[Kev]

I meant if the silver pied male is split purple they could get a purple hen to get purples in both sexes.. out of purple hen and split male. But if they don't know if he is split purple or he is not split purple then they do need to buy/get a purple male. At least! you are right, a purple male will throw purple daughters, so not a real necessity to also buy a purple hen..

 

[jimmythechicken]

the sp is not split the guy said i texted him.i looked at the bronze peacocks wow if she has any bronze i will be getting one for myself.

 

[Kev]

Ah good to know.. Have fun looking at all the colors and be sure to send pictures of new birds here!

You can eventually add pied to any color, although with some colors it is a little harder to do, like bronze because it's a simple recessive gene. Sex linked colors are generally much easier to "play" with as deerman showed.