Jerry,
I wish you success, but will not be personally participating because of other priorities. Here is one acid test to make sure you are getting what you want with regard to shank coloring, and I offer it here in hopes of helping you succeed in your long term goals. At the Classroom at the Coop genetics forum, they are now calling it the \"Bushman method,\" yours truly being the aforementioned Bushman on that forum. Slate legs must have dark dermis. The epidermis may be yellow, transluscent white(required for slate), or it can be affected by the color of the feathers. So E, E^R, and e^g, can affect feather color and also the epidermis, since the feathers are an extension of the epidermis. That is why I compromised and voted for the change when the others wanted to allow black legs on the darker feathered varieties. But Ameraucanas must have a dark dermis (the under layer of skin on the shank). The so called \"Bushman method\" is simple, and I know you will have no trouble applying it. When you post a chicken, cut away the leg at the junction or the joint where the feathers begin, and peel away the outer layer of skin on the shank. That is the epidermis. What is left is the dermis. It will be either white or dark gray. Dark gray is necessary to make a slate leg. If your purple polka dotted lavender barred cuckoo bird has a dark dermis, you have achieved your goal. Then, you need to bring them up to show quality, have five other breeders participate for at least five years, and then pay a hefty sum and hold qualifying meets to get them recognized. Good luck!
