The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding
Breeder selling to hatchery?
Lavender Sullivan:
Couldn't someone start with hatchery birds and breed out bad qualities? It would take a few generations, but isn't it possible? For example, I have three blues that I am certain aren't pure Ameraucanas due to their "gypsy faces", but they look close to the real deal. Couldn't those three be bred to an overall good quality black Ameraucana Rooster that has some white leakage, in order to reduce leakage in the next generation? Correct me if I'm wrong.
Susan Mouw:
Well, that is the way some people start out, but it's not necessarily the best and certainly not the quickest way to get back to SOP.
The challenge with the blues is that you're only seeing the tip of the iceberg, genetically. Since you don't know their background, you may have a lot of unknowns (recessives) that will start showing up in the next generation, and could plaque you for a long time.
Of course, we know the background on the black, but I wouldn't want to use one with the leakage he is showing. Might just hold onto him until his first molt, though, and see what happens.
Post a pic of him, if you get a chance, showing his leakage and maybe we can get some expert opinions. :)
Don:
It can be done Lavender. If you read some of the old variety history discussions that is the way a few were developed. It would take a long time to clean up the colors. And it seems like a lot of trouble since there is good stock readily available. Someone has spent the time and money to progress the varieties that we currently have. So it seems like reinventing the wheel in some ways. But some people like projects.
I am not sure about your question about using a black male with leakage? Using the best breeders without leakage is the fastest route to clean colors.
Birdcrazy:
Lavender, I agree with Susan and Don. Yes you could use those birds as breeders but it would take time and a lot of culling and many generations to get to the starting point of coming close to the standard of perfection. After that there is always continued culling do to combs, tail set, coloration etc. Have you ever looked at several birds and said " Boy, I wish that I could put that comb on that bird, or wow if that bird only had the tail set of my other bird. Man does that Black have a nice shiny Green sheen to his feathers". It's easier said then done, but that keeps all of us striving for the betterment of the breed. Good luck on which ever route that you decide to pursue, but most of all thanks for your interest and in joining the ABC.
Lavender Sullivan:
oh, I see. That makes sense. Thanks.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version