Genetics of blue chickens

[Karen Warner]

I have been working with blue Ameraucanas for 3-4 years.  I have experimented with various matings trying to keep the type of my original flock, but to develop better lacing.  I have not been pleased with my results.  I am losing beard/muff volume and getting narrow hens that lack the heft of my hens without Andulsian genes.  The lacing  has been somewhat better, but broken and narrow. 

Here is what I am trying this year.  I have a pretty nice blue cock that has the Andulsian genetics.  I believe he is F3.  For my experiment, i choose three hens to mate with him:  My best blue hen with  Andulsian in her gene pool; my best blue hen with classic type and beard from my older hens; and a nice quality black hen with good type.  These are the only eggs I have hatched from my blues this year.

I have many questions and would appreciate direction from experienced breeders.  However,  i have one question today.  I am getting about 10% of the chicks from cross of the birds with Andulsian genes are hatching without beards/muffs.  Will these chicks develop beards/muffs as they develop?  Should I just cull them now?

[Suki]

Karen, Muffs and Beards do not grow in.  If they aren't there now, they never will be.

[Russ Blair]

Karen muffs and beards are one of the easiest traits to put on an Ameraucana. Within in 2 years you can easily fix that. If they have been outcrossed ti Andalusian I would be more concerned with white in the earlobes, comb, and overall type. I wouldn’t hesitate to use a cleanfaced bird for breeding if it had overall beneficial qualities

[Mike Gilbert]

I agree with Russ.  Some of those clean faced chicks might be what you are looking for in terms of color and type.  Muffs are an easy fix.

[Steve Neumann]

The beards/muffs may not be a big deal, but those narrow hens definitely can be.  The pursuit of the lacing can paint you into a corner in type, if all the heavily laced hens you keep are narrow.  It benefits a breeder to keep a variety of birds so that you have mates that compensate for the weakeness of those particular faults.  (ie. if you are keeping extremely well laced hens that are narrow, keep a male that is good and wide to improve on their width.)