AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Some more pics, just out of the incubator and the earlier lot at approx. a month old.
And the original one's at maturity.

A couple pics didn't get up , here they are. I hope.
Didn't work I'll try again later.

Adorable! Very elegant chicks!

Better luck this time.

Could you name them "Snowy Barnevelders" like in Snow Owls???

No, What the breed needs is some constructive criticism from folk experienced in genetics/breeding of such birds.

, purefather,
Poultry feathered friends are all very new to me and your White Barnevelder's do seem very regal and snow like in my most humblest opinion

No offence taken , none intended. But advice from folk such as Rhode Red, Andrewschooks, Oaklands etc. might help with the future of the breed.

I hope you have not talked me and my ideas up too much, so lets test them , I am much better talking than writing. Purefeather you look to have a good number of chickens from this years breeding season. I think you will be able utilise your Barnvelder knowledge to great advantage with your "white" project. My comments below will be based on the differences and similarities I see in Rhodes and comparing Reds and Whites. I think there will be many of these points will transfer to "Barnies" in general terms of comparing the dark/red and whites.

The Standard and breed traits will should be same for both colours, except the points for colour of course, this is a key point. Your first and last objective is your are breeding Barnies not something else, so they need to represent the breed. Read and re read the standard, look at the standard picture, lock it into your mind and use it as a reference point.

Based on your previous breeding you will be able to compare the growth habits of the white and compare these to your darks chickens. I think this will be a key for future improvements. Did you notice any similarities in your 1st Generation whites (G1), last year (visual points)? Thinks like which matured sooner, is there any size difference, did the whites have the same comb types or did they have large or smaller combs, more serrations, more double serrations, leg colour differences and how they compare to the Barnie standard. Did the darker leg colour indicate darker egg colour in the females, if so is there a colour difference in the males.

Some points for you the think about before we get going. (forget you already have chickens from your G1). In my first few years of breeding I spent many an hour studying my chickens as they grew, identifing certain good and bad traits that developed at the various stages of development. Knowing my line I am able to cull chickens at fairly early stages with out the worry am I culling too soon. I am sure you have these point identified in your dark line. Now apart from colouring these should be the same or similar for the white. Depending on your available space I would grow them out as much as possible prior to culling the lesser birds. Certainly for the next year or two until you start to understand your birds. It could be some thing as simlpe as in my reds I know if a have a pullet with clean markings in her chicken feathers, she will grow good strong markings as she matures, in the same bird if she has excess black, chances she will be 'peppered' in the wings.

As I mentioned earlier have you made any notes on any obversations on if the "Redder" chicks are boys or girls or if they show any differences in colour as they grow (the odd dark feather), as they mature keep a look for a brassy look in the hackle. I do notice that the males have a slight creamy look in the neck hackle or is that just staining or shaddows. Did you mate the males separately i.e. two pens, and did you toe punch the chicken if so.

I would only be culling the runts or any that have any ginger or black coming through until they are 3-4 months. If there any cockerels with double serrations they too should be culled. (you don't need a fault like this to be fixed in the line).

This is where your previous obversations will help.

Once they have developed 6-8 months old, now the selection process should get a bit ruthless, especialy if you have a good number of birds to select from. Selection criteria "once again" is all about type. How does the bird compare to the standard? Remeber one you locked into your memory. I would judge each bird one at a time once all birds have been handled and checked. In my selection process I cull birds with the obvious faults first. E.g Judging the photos - Looking at the two males, the dominant male (with the girls), looks to have a much better type and more balanced. The other birds looks to be a norrow toward the based of the tail and carrying his tail a bit low. The narrowing of the body has the possiblity of loosing the productivity trait for egg production. How do they compare to your dark males for type?

Selections should be similar to that for males and females. Note my comment about re: matings and toe punches, you want to try to limit as much brother / sister maiting as possible. Or you will reduce your gene pool dramatically. Keeping this point in mind.
Select your "best" males and females from each group.
As these are all sports or breed from sports, I would compare G1 and G2 once the G2 (current) chickens have matured a look to select the best (most compatable) breeding trios. If the G1 males are considered better than the G2, I would use them rather than the G2 birds. In the females use a similar process. It would be unlucky if all G1 were considered better that G2.

This is a start some of these points may get you going for now. Once they mature you should start to see some of the points I have raised, this will also help in the selection. I have tried to stay with type and not got into legs, feet, combs these points should be part of the basic check.

Please keep adding photos as they develop. This is good, I hope to learn more about your obversations, so I learn more about Barnies. Can always PM for contact details is need to discuss.

Rhode Red

Great stuff rhode red, wonderful feedback. I will keep the photos going as previously mentioned. With regards to the ginger versus white down colours, it seems that it is not sex linked, I normally get two types of colouring in my double laced chicks, some light, some dark. I'll take some photos of them as well.
Cheers.