Author Topic: Isabella  (Read 4646 times)

Dennis Heltzel

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Isabella
« on: March 10, 2017, 08:19:38 AM »
Lavender Silvers and Lavender Wheatens both sound awesome!! Color options like this can really spur outside interests in standard bred Ameraucanas.
Lavender also alters red, so what would a Lavender Buff look like? Cream-like color?

John W Blehm

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2017, 10:43:18 AM »
Lavender Silvers and Lavender Wheatens both sound awesome!! Color options like this can really spur outside interests in standard bred Ameraucanas.
Lavender also alters red, so what would a Lavender Buff look like? Cream-like color?

Yes.  The lavender gene (Lav) dilutes black feathers (eumelanin) to the color called lavender, but the same gene also dilutes red feathers (pheomelanin) to the color called isabella.  Buff is already a diluted red, so I'm not sure how much lighter lavender would make buff and if isabella would still be the proper term.  In my lavender silver females I've noted the breast, which would be salmon color on a silver, is more pink in color.

Mike Gilbert

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #2 on: March 10, 2017, 02:58:20 PM »
To evaluate how lav might dilute pheomelanin, take a look at Porcelain D'Uccles.   They are Mille Fleurs with two copies of lav added.   Here is a link.  Not particularly attractive to my eye, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder - or so they say. 

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/CGK/Millies/PorcDUccleMUK.JPEG
Mike Gilbert
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Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2017, 06:18:15 PM »
   I can't wait for the self-blue silver or the self-blue wheaten issue to present itself.   

Self-blue Blue   aka Lavender with Blue highlights.  I have one.  He's tremendous looking.   
I don't see it changing.  The fact that it will be confusing will give the judges more power.  Pathetic


Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2017, 06:19:53 PM »
Lavender Silvers and Lavender Wheatens both sound awesome!! Color options like this can really spur outside interests in standard bred Ameraucanas.
Tractor Supply had Ameraucanas mixed with Easter Eggers this year at my store in Eynon (near Scranton).  The manager told me that they sold out that afternoon.

John W Blehm

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2017, 08:03:41 PM »
Lavender Silvers and Lavender Wheatens both sound awesome!! Color options like this can really spur outside interests in standard bred Ameraucanas.
Lavender also alters red, so what would a Lavender Buff look like? Cream-like color?

Yes.  The lavender gene (Lav) dilutes black feathers (eumelanin) to the color called lavender, but the same gene also dilutes red feathers (pheomelanin) to the color called isabella.  Buff is already a diluted red, so I'm not sure how much lighter lavender would make buff and if isabella would still be the proper term.  In my lavender silver females I've noted the breast, which would be salmon color on a silver, is more pink in color.

I really like buff as it is, so even though it crossed my mind I don't plan to create bantam or large fowl isabella Ameraucanas. Plus I don't need another variety.  It could be easy to do and only take a couple years (possible...maybe not probable).  Cross buff cocks over lavender hens (this guarantees the pullets are gold/s+ based) to produce your F1 outcrosses that should be mostly black with some buff feathers.  The 2nd year breed the F1 siblings among themselves and hatch as many as you can.  You are playing the odds here, looking to keep only the pure isabella chicks.  Some chicks that hatch and appear to be isabella (down) could show some lavender (aka diluted black) feathers as they mature.  I've made a few outcrosses between buff and black and know frm experience it could take years to eliminate the lavender feathers before ending up with pure isabella.

Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2017, 11:09:00 PM »

John W Blehm

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #7 on: March 21, 2017, 09:17:37 AM »
Here's an Isabel Orpington

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/629444/10-lavender-isabel-porcelain-orpington-project-55-shipped-buy-it-now-beakhouse

And here's an Isabel Cuckoo Orpington
http://www.chickenridgefarm.com/isabel-cuckoo-orpington.html

They're very popular on FB these days.

From the photos I see neither appear to be 100% isabella (aka isabel).  They have patterns, so also have lavender feathers.

Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #8 on: March 21, 2017, 02:19:00 PM »

From the photos I see neither appear to be 100% isabella (aka isabel).  They have patterns, so also have lavender feathers.
Well then I don't know what your "Isabella" would be.

John W Blehm

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #9 on: March 21, 2017, 02:48:58 PM »

From the photos I see neither appear to be 100% isabella (aka isabel).  They have patterns, so also have lavender feathers.
Well then I don't know what your "Isabella" would be.

Just as the lavender variety  is based on a solid black feathered bird with all the feathers diluted to lavender an isabella would be based on a solid gold (red/buff) bird with all the feathers diluted to "soft orange or creamy light straw colour".  I believe the patterned varieties that some call isabella should be called lavender brown, lavender partridge, lavender wheaten, etc. of maybe isabella brown, isabella partridge, isabella wheaten, etc.  "Isabella" should be reserved for a solid (or fairly solid) color, just as lavender is.
I don't know that anyone has created a pure/100% isabella chicken.

Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #10 on: March 21, 2017, 10:01:24 PM »
Well the Australian Leghorn group claims that they have
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/614742/isabella-coloring

And cackle hatchery sells them
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/isabella-leghorn.html
« Last Edit: March 21, 2017, 10:03:23 PM by Suki Paolini »

John W Blehm

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #11 on: March 21, 2017, 10:19:24 PM »
Well the Australian Leghorn group claims that they have
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/614742/isabella-coloring

And cackle hatchery sells them
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/isabella-leghorn.html

But they are multicolored birds...not solid.

Mike Gilbert

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2017, 09:33:30 AM »
Well the Australian Leghorn group claims that they have
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/614742/isabella-coloring

And cackle hatchery sells them
https://www.cacklehatchery.com/isabella-leghorn.html

But they are multicolored birds...not solid.

Nomenclature is not uniform throughout the world.   Pretty much par for the course.     So I guess a rose by any other name is still a rose.    I do agree that Isabella should designate only a solid colored bird, but that is not what many are saying, and I have no horse in the race.   
« Last Edit: March 22, 2017, 09:38:47 AM by Mike Gilbert »
Mike Gilbert
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Suki

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Re: Isabella
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2017, 03:00:43 PM »
I agree with Mike...whatever you call it, and the Aussie's are calling their leghorns Isabellas, they are purty.