The Poultry Keeper

Hen-Gen · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:45 pm Post subject:

In both those cases the result so far was retrograde. The males have been aggressive and egg yield reduced. But given time I see no reason why progress cannot be made.

mojo · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 6:22 pm Post subject:

thats the sort of info i love to read

Hen-Gen · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 11:25 am Post subject:

Quite mojo. The best laid plans, eh! Very Happy

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What I learnt from this is that when you combine two breeds then you are combining both good and bad traits. So the infusion of Hamburgh blood brought in the rose comb but also brought in lower productivity and male aggression.
This years hatchlings (currently only 12 days old) will be 1/8th Hamburgh and 7/8ths Minorca in breeding. Naturally I hope that the egg yield and passivity will be recovered.
In my rearing pens I also have three Blue Leghorn males, 12 weeks old, one of which will be mated to this generation next year. This admixture of Hamburgh/Minorca/Leghorn breeding will from then on be crossed back to Minorcas year on year. By 2012 to 2014 I should have Blue Rose Comb birds that are, to all intents and purposes, pure Minorcas.
That is my objective!!! They did once exist and are in the Breed Standards. Wish me luck! Confused

mojo · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 1:59 pm Post subject:

i do indeed keep records and inform us how you do please

vanessa · Joined: 24 Sep 2005 Posts: 1139 Location: Correze

I have 2 CLB (hen) to Welsummer (coq) hens in my garden ... both have the same colouring (partridge feathering with gold ruff), and both have a crest, although one is bigger-crested than the other. Both lay brown eggs; one's eggs are really dark brown (as per daddy!), the other's eggs are paler brown with lots of freckles.

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 196 Location: Somerset

I have eggs under a broody bought from a localish lady

I was looking for Light sussex and she had Light sussex hens running with Light sussex cockeral and Blue/Black Orpington cockeral all L/F Shocked

How do you think they will turn out??

Spana · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 2036 Location: North Cornwall

This is a Dorking[cockerel] X Black Rock, we call them the Black Dockies. They are lovely hens now- pic taken last year at about 20weeks- and lay a big dull tinted egg. They are a bit bigger than a Black Rock and I'm not sure if thats good because they will eat more but I really like them. Very Happy

This year I have tried a Light Sussex cockerel X Dorking hens. All the signs are they are going to be really big birds but very pretty Very Happy

mojo · Posted: Thu May 01, 2008 8:30 pm Post subject:

just hatched a buffsussex /black maran X that is crem coloured with cream feathered legs and black wings.........want to guess sex??