Plumage question

[greeneggsandham]

Can someone tell me, how long does it take before you can tell if your blue cockeral is going to be a cull on his color/pattern?  I have to reduce my flock and these cockerals are 13 to 15 wks old now and I'm just unsure whether this guy here is just a bad blue or the dark coloring hasn't had time to develop fully yet?  He is from a splash/ blue cross.  My memory is just not serving me well right now.  I can't remember how last year's blues developed. 

[Mike Gilbert]

He looks like a very dark splash to me.   You don't normally see those large dark patches in a blue.  The wing secondaries are the giveaway to me;  they are almost white.  Or maybe he is in that in-between-stage where he is transitioning from henny feathering to male feathering.  I lean toward splash though.

[Cats Cradle]

I am so glad this was posted!  If I had that bird turn up in my flock someday I'm pretty sure I would have just assumed he is a blue.  But Mike's explanation makes perfect sense!

I learn something new here everyday... Well at least everyday y'all post something! 

Now a question! What would cause a splash to be so dark.  Obviously something is going on genetically.  Does anyone know what?

[greeneggsandham]

It did briefly cross my mind whether he may be a splash, but I don't see white on him, only shades of blue.  The picture doesn't show the color well.  The front shot of him shows what looks like some lacing.  That wouldn't happen on a splash would it?   

[greeneggsandham]

Well, looking back on my notes I see that I had initially listed him as splash, then changed to blue, so I wasn't even sure back when he was a chick!  He was from a splash cock and blue hen cross.  She is not excessively dark, so I don't know.  This is the first year that I can remember that I have received cockerals from that cock cross.  Looks like he will be a reject.  Thanks Mike.