[gsc]

I'm confused (so what else is new  )

I was trying to check the paranetage of the 4 pols we've just bought, Amber Star, Black Star, Blue, Columbine, when I came across 2 puzzling conflicting statements.

No-one really seems to know the exact origins of the Amber Star.

Hybrids don't breed true.

So if hybrids don't breed true then how do they get Amber Stars and not know who Mum and Dad is?

[GrannieAnnie]

Hybrids are basically a cross betwen 2 breeds of chicken, but unlike a straight crossbreed, there will be little bits of genese from other things too, perhaps a good egg laying strain, or hardiness etc.

The Amberlink is basically a Lt Sussex cockerel and a Rhode Island Red hen, but I'm not sure if the Amber Star is the same, or if it's the one that lays white eggs, then is a cross between a white leghorn and a Rhode Island Red.  The female hybrids take their colouring from the cockerel.

That's why if you cross a hybrid with the same hybrid, you could get any of those genes.  Something that looks like a LS, or IR, or any of the other 'bits'!

Lat year, chap near us was selling breeding trios of Bluebelles.  I said to his right hand man, you can't breed a bluebelle with a bluebelle!  He said I know, we get all sorts of colours!!  He thought it was funny, but the buyer wouldn't have done!

[agingchick]

Hi  the Amber Star is the same as the Amberlink and lays a mid to pale brown egg
Diane

[Nails]

So if you cross a LS cockerel with RIR hen you get an amberlink, what are the chooks called if you cross a RIR cockerel and LS hens? I know if you breed this wat round and not the first way the chicks are sexlink, boys being yellow and girls being brown.

[gsc]

Thanks all - I have to swot up  on this sex-link business.  I got quite heavily into dog genetics but you don 't see many sex linked traits.  It seems strange to think the same 2 breeds will produce something different if you swap the male and female around.

And to all those who said I would get hooked - well - what can I say? 

[Chookiechook]

I was going to ask how to make a bluebell so this looks like a good thread to ask on

Anyone know

[gsc]

I was going to ask how to make a bluebell so this looks like a good thread to ask on

Anyone know

Rhode Island Red and a Cuckoo Maran?

[cluckingnuts]

I was going to ask how to make a bluebell so this looks like a good thread to ask on

Anyone know

RIR cock x blue cuckoo Marans = 25% black cuckoo cocks, 25% blue cuckoo cocks, 25% black hens, 25% blue hens

[Chookiechook]

Thank you   I wont be breeding any of them then

[gsc]

Apparently my Blue is a blue maran x rhode island.

I guess that's not a Bluebelle then?

[GrannieAnnie]

Well if you look at what cluckingnuts said, its a RIR (Rhode island Red) crossed with a blue cuckoo maran (blue maran?)  so yes, yours is a bluebelle!

[cluckingnuts]

The only reason I used a cuckoo hen was that it would be easy to sex on hatching.

[gsc]

Well if you look at what cluckingnuts said, its a RIR (Rhode island Red) crossed with a blue cuckoo maran (blue maran?)  so yes, yours is a bluebelle!

mmm  I think I'm missing something.  I asked the chap I got my 4 girls from about their parentage, suggesting:
Amber Star  Same as an Amberlink?  Lt Sussex cockerel and a Rhode Island Red hen?
Black Star  Rhode Island Cockerel and a Barred Plymouth Rock Female  (Same as the Black Rock?)
Blue  Is this the same as a Bluebelle?   Rhode Island Red and a Cuckoo Maran?
Columbine  Crested Cream Legbar and Araucana ?
He replied:
You are right on the first two, the blue is a blue maran x rhode island and the columbine is derived from a cream legbar.
The coucou maran x rhode island is a speckled.

So is there a difference between a coucou/cuckoo maran and a blue maran?  And if so, are the resultant offspring still called a Bluebelle?

Or have I lost the plot altogether?

[hillfooter]

Well if you look at what cluckingnuts said, its a RIR (Rhode island Red) crossed with a blue cuckoo maran (blue maran?)  so yes, yours is a bluebelle!

Errr I think the question is the sex of the parents ie a RIR XBlue Maran doesn't produce the same characteristics as a Blue Maran X RIR.  The cock being the first mentioned.  At least this is my understanding but that's hybrids for you, complete confusion.
HF

[GrannieAnnie]

Oh yes HF, my tired brain missed that bit!  

Forgive me again if I'm wrong, but I think the CouCou is a hybrid herself, we were given a speckeldy hen and was told she was a CouCou, but a Cuckoo Maran is the proper pure breed.

Still confused gsc?  Me too!!!!