breeding question

[Guest]

I had two trios of bantams that I was going to work with...

The first was a trio of Wheaten Ameraucanas.

The second was a trio...one black rooster, a blue hen and a black.

Unfortunately, the Wheaten rooster died this winter.  What would I get if i breed the black rooster with my Wheaten hens?

Anyone around have a nice Wheaten rooster available?  I\'m in MA.


Karen

[John]

What would I get if i breed the black rooster with my Wheaten hens?

Trouble.  That\'s spelled with a \"T\" and...oh never mind.
I would keep trying for a wheaten, blue wheaten or splash wheaten male to go with the wheaten females and avoid crossing the blacks/blues with wheatens.  They have quite different color and pattern genes.  That is not to say it can\'t be done.  You could be back to producing pure black birds after a few generations of selective breeding.
I know that Mike Gilbert crossed blue with wheaten, years ago, to develop blue wheaten.  

[Mike Gilbert]

That is true, John, I did cross straight blue with wheaten to make the blue-wheatens.   But it took a number of years crossing the offspring back to straight wheaten before any good ones (color wise)  were produced.    I don\'t recommend it unless someone doesn\'t mind dealing with huge numbers of color culls.  

[Guest]

Thanks gentlemen!!

Not the answer that I wanted to hear, but the one that I needed to know...so, now I need to search for a Wheaten rooster.  Maybe I\'ll get lucky at Northeastern Poultry Congress next weekend.

Otherwise, who would you recommend getting some eggs from?

Karen

[John]

who would you recommend getting some eggs from?

Check with Michael Muenks http://Bantamhill.com and also the Breeders Directory that can be accessed thru the FAQ page of our website.