Second Generation Production Blues

[Hercsmomma]

I have six production blue chicks (RIR roo x Blue Australorp hen) and I am trying to determine what type of roo I should put in with them to continue the PB line. This is my first attempt with this hybrid and I'm just not sure how to keep the coloring.

 

[NatJ]

Oops, just noticed your thread. Sorry it took so long.

Given that Production Blues are hybrids, they will not breed true--there will be variation among the chicks.

To keep as many traits as possible the same, it would make sense to use a rooster that's either Australorp, Rhode Island Red, or Production Blue. The main differences will be in what color chicks you will get.

If you like the blue color, a Black Australorp rooster is probably your best choice. You will get about half black chicks and half blue chicks.

If you use a Blue Australorp rooster, you will get about one quarter black chicks, half blue chicks, and one quarter splash chicks (they look very light gray with bits of black.)

If you later cross the splash with the black, that will produce all blue chicks.

(The blue gene is a bit of a nuisance to work with )


If you use a Rhode Island Red rooster, about half the chicks will be red, and the other half split among black and blue. Of the red chicks, some will have bits of black, and some will have bits of blue.

If you use a Production Blue rooster, you will get all the chick colors listed above, plus probably some white or Columbian pattern chicks as well. Columbian pattern ones would also come in black, blue, and splash varieties.

So a Production Blue rooster would give the largest variety of possible chick colors--great if you like to recognize individual chickens, but not great if you just want pretty blue ones!

 

[aart]

Doesn't look like @Hercsmomma ever came back after posting?

 

[RobertaD1]

Don't know about the original poster, but I found it helpful! If I ever get into the "hatch your own game" I will DEFINITELY come back to this post!