The Poultry Keeper

rainwoman · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 44 Location: Midlands

Wow, he's absolutely gorgeous! I love dutch bantams - I've got two silver dutch boys, one the son of the other. The dad of the two was very tame for a long time - used to sit on my shoulder and chat to me while I did the washing up etc. He stayed that way until his harem got a little bigger, and then the responsibilities of sex goddery seemed to make him less interested in people.

His son has the worst rusty crow of any bird I've ever heard - the dad 'crows with an accent', according to one of my neighbours Very Happy

CP · Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:53 am Post subject:

He's a gorgeous looking little boy, Magpie! Very Happy

onymee · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

His colour is good but his comb is not good at all for show or breeding purposes. It should have 5 clear points.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:51 pm Post subject:

I have white Dutch, Gold and Blue Partridge. The white ones seems much more friendly than the others. The whites come to the front of the pen but the colours stay back. Does anyone know whether the whites are generally more friendly or is it just mine. Perhaps its just down to individual strains.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:55 pm Post subject:

Does anyone know whether its acceptable to cross blue partridge with Gold Partridge. Will I get both colours or just a mish mash.

I know the black/blue combination works with most breeds.

Magpie · Joined: 28 Aug 2007 Posts: 553 Location: Norfolk

onymee - My lavender chap is not intended for showing, or breeding for show quality so that doesn't really matter to me that is comb isn't ideal.

WD - He is really friendly, always to the front of the coop and chuntering and chirrruping away to himself Laughing

I did have a pair of gold in the autumn (till weasel killed them Crying or Very sad

) and they were not as friendly but I was getting them to eat from my hand 2-3 weeks after they arrived.

I think that gold partridge x blue partridge would give a bit of a mess!? Blue x silver would be better if I understand correctly.

Tim

PS. WD, I wouldn't mind some eggs from your Dutch later in the spring if possible Smile

. Tim

Welsh Duck · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:52 pm Post subject:

Magpie- If I get some spare you can try some by all means Very Happy

As far as five points go on the comb, I would have thought if a cockerals type and colour was good, then it is still worth breeding from and choosing the young stock with 5 points for further breeding as part of their genepool could contain the correct number. Also the female may have an input into the quality off the offspring.

It is preferable of course to use the ideal, but sometimes we have to sacrifice certain elements and hope they come through in future generations. If they dont then of course that line must be discontinued to safeguard the future and quality of the breed in the long run.
My thoughts on this come from breeding Calls. A breeder never sells his best stock, you are not really buying the bird but actually the genepool that it contains.

onymee · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Welsh Duck · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:54 pm Post subject:

Thank you for your advice, its much appreciated. I have a trio of unrelated Gold Partridge. The cockerals comb has seven spikes as opposed to the required five, but I am hoping that he will produce some five spiked offspring. They are happy together so dont want to seperate. I have a lovely typey gold male with five spikes which I will now put to the blue female. so hopefully I will get some good blue and gold's. Very Happy

onymee · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

If I can find the newsletter, I'll scan and send you the article which explains about what produces what.

Welsh Duck · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject:

That would be great, Thanks Very Happy

If you find it, PM me and I will give you my address Very Happy

onymee · Joined: 21 Jan 2008 Posts: 6

Foghorn · Joined: 06 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

What will be the offspring (if any) of my miniature fowl leghorn cock and my poor tiny dutch bantam hens?

He seems to be in love with them but I wonder if anything will come of it due to the size difference.

Does anyone know if such a match is possible? Laughing

CP · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

Where there's a will.... Wink

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 770 Location: St. Asaph

Just got my first Dutch Bantams Very Happy

They chattered all the way home and it was so sweet.

Very Happy