The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding
Partridge Ameraucana
angora831:
I appreciate the ideas and know that there is a long road ahead if this project is pursued. At this point of year I don\'t think that a whole lot can be done, except some exploring into what each breed brings to the table and then starting on a course to get things rolling. I need to get better acquainted with the genetics(college genetics seems so long ago). That is what I am looking at now. I don\'t know if I can find the right partridge variety birds now, but I am looking at my black pullets and hens to see what we have to work with. If there is something that is worth doing it is worth doing well, so I want to get all of my proverbial eggs in order before moving on. Keep the thoughts coming.
Ken
angora831:
I am only going to learn if I ask questions, so here goes. In a cross with a Partridge Rock to a black Ameraucana one can expect the Partridge bird to carry eb eb, ss or s-, and PgPg. This would be the gold side of the variety. If a cross was to be made with a Silver Penciled Rock you could expect the bird to contribute eb eb, SS or S- and PgPg. This would be from the silver side. In either case the Partridge gene is contributed to the cross. Would there be a advantage or disadvantage in using the silver over the gold or vice versa in a cross to arrive at a Partridge Ameraucana?
Thanks,
Ken
Birch Run Farm:
I\'m tuning in to your post because I am working on partridge araucanas. I have obtained a nice partridge rock hen to use mostly as a visual reference for color and feather pattern. Quite interesting is she lays an almost white egg, not brown at all. I have no plans to cross her into my araucanas for now, however I do have a good black tufted cockerel.
If I ever obtain a breeder quality black ameraucana cock I may join you in this project.
Guest:
--- Quote from: Mike Gilbert ---Are Brabanters available in this country? I have never seen one at a show - or anywhere else. I don\'t know anything about their genetics. The Campine, according to Jeffrey, does not have pattern gene (Pg) in its genetic roadmap, and Pg is an essential component of the partridge color pattern. Or is there something more recent that indicates so? The Campine is smaller in weight than Ameraucana and has white earlobes. From what I have heard it has a flighty temperament also; there is more than color to consider. Unless Brabanter are available I think I would prefer to work with the Partridge Plymouth Rock on such a project. I should think it would be possible to find a couple of females that lay only a very light tinted egg.
--- End quote ---
Brabanter are in the USA I have had them in the past. I will have to disagree with Jeffrey ( so does Smyth and Carefoot), Campines do contain the pattern gene.
Tim
grisaboy:
--- Quote from: angora831 --- Would there be a advantage or disadvantage in using the silver over the gold or vice versa in a cross to arrive at a Partridge Ameraucana?
--- End quote ---
If you are trying to get partridge, you would get there quicker using gold (partridge) birds. Personally, I would cross the partidge rocks with wheatons. That way you know what you are starting with. It is hard to tell what colors or patterns are underneath a black or a white bird. Brown Red would probably work, but they are not as common and do not have as good type as the wheatons.
If you have the space, I would cross both was PR males to Wheaton females (pen A) and wheaton males to PR females (pen B).
You don\'t need too many in the first cross. Just a few males and females from each pen.
Next generation cross pen A males to pen B females and vice versa. Hatch a lot from this generation, as many as you have space for. You will hatch a lot of yellow-white chicks and a few brown chicks. Only keep the brown chicks. These are eb and the start of your patridge Ameraucanas.
Grow out as many of the brown chicks as you can. You will need to cull hard, but may not be able to tell which are best until they get older.
You will need to cull for color, yellow legs (recessive so will be carried by those without), light legs versus slate legs, combs, beards, egg color (blue vs green, non blue/green) and Ameraucana shape and size. ( Actually using Plymouth Rocks should help with size).
Subsequent generations, breed best to best and continue to hatch a lot and cull hard.
After your fourth generation, you may want to get a few white leghorns to progeny test your birds. They will help you find many of the lingering recessive genes. You don\'t want to keep any of the leghorn crosses for your breeding flock, but you will want to raise some of the pullets to laying age to test for egg color.
Once you have a nice flock of Partridge Ameraucanas, then you can start lobbying your fellow club members to help you get them into the standard. That is another multi-year project.
Curtis
p.s - You could also start this process using hatchery Easter Eggers for the first cross to Partridge Rocks. I would only use brown hens and black breasted red males. It may take a little longer this way, but not much. Still mostly comes down to hatching a lot and culling a lot. (hope you like to eat chicken)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version