Recent content by ElPaso

The goal for the Silver Laced x BCW was not to clean the bodies of black. That cross is to improve vigor and type. Because BCW are poor in both. The cross with buff Orpingtons was to get the right genes for clean, no black bodies. But Orpington have a completely different type which must be...

These are f2 from buff x BCW

Here are two pullets from 2nd generation cross of Sliver Laced and Black Crested White Polish.

I have some 4 weeks old chicks I'll get pics of tomorrow. Plus I have eggs to set.

These chicks are day old. They are f2 from polish x buff Orpington cross.

Thanks for such a detailed reply. I agree with your analysis. One thing you didn't mention is these crossed birds will have excellent vigor. They can be bred back to BCW and improvement should follow. I think these crosses are not likely to improve color, but you should be able select back to...

I am interested to hear more about your cross breeding?

This could be an effect of Db dosage in hens. But that too doesn't add up.

Both crosses were polish male on buff hens. By darker I mean more melanised.

The Silver laced x buff was different. Both boys and girls looked like silver laced do as chicks. I'm still scratching my head as to why the girls were darker in the BCW x buff.

The boys were white or cream. The girls were darker. I don't recall any of them having striped backs. But the BCW x BCW did have faint striping.

I hope you have good luck with your chicks. I remember your concerns about the vault size being correlated to loses. My experience is different. I have never seen more loses from vaulted chicks. The causes of chick mortality are many. My guess is that it is associated with this strain of...