Ameraucana Breeders Club

The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club => Breeding => Topic started by: Mitchell Taylor on September 16, 2019, 01:23:29 PM

Title: Splash x Splash
Post by: Mitchell Taylor on September 16, 2019, 01:23:29 PM
With the possibility / future qualifying of the Splash variety, our family is considering primarily focusing on the Splash variety and are wondering what if any issues or pitfalls are encountered when crossing Splash on Splash over an extended period of time. Would coloration and feather quality be negatively affected like in other varieties?

We are currently breeding Blue, Black, and Splash varieties so we will still have access to those genetics if we need to occasionally cross those varieties back into the mix.

Thank you for any information.

Mitch and Tiffany
Title: Re: Splash x Splash
Post by: Don on September 16, 2019, 11:29:18 PM
Mitch and Tiffany,. Some breeders have bred Spl/SPL and had good luck for one generation. With successive generations you should expect extended lost of base color and splash flecks as well.  So crossing back to darker blue would be a minimum step to maintain the coloring for splash.  Many breeders only raise those splash that come from bl/bl matings.

In my opinion it's best to focus on one of the three colors to improve the color and genetics for that specific color.  Black can stand on it's own. And also blacks are thought to be based on gold.  So using blks from blues when needed for blue crosses. Blue will need a reinforcement of color  from a related black from time to time. Splash will benefit from blue....  the color of blue and splash varies from dark to light, and breeder preferences do also.
Title: Re: Splash x Splash
Post by: Don on January 10, 2020, 09:33:51 AM
Thanks for the email, I am glad you are gearing up to raise a good group of blues for this season. I hope you can keep some exemplary blacks from the blue/blue matings to use with blues next season. I am sure you will get some great Splash youngsters for next years breeding pens too. It would be great if you would be able to take a good showing of these to the ABC National in Norman OK this fall.  We need to have greater numbers of classes in those colors that we hope to move toward acceptance. And this show is a good central location.