Ameraucana Breeders Club
The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club => Breeding => Topic started by: greeneggsandham on July 14, 2012, 02:50:53 PM
-
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. :P
-
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.
-
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?
-
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?
-
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.