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If the above original Lavender has Blue in it's genes it will eventually throw Blue. But if all above fails work in reverse to above. Use a Lavender or Black crossed with a Blue-Red. Alternatively cross a Black Araucana with a similar breed of blue colouring which carries some similar adornments. i.e. Faverolles, Silkie or Belgium but then you inherit all the characteristics of the alien breeds and more problems.
Q. How do I create the Silver Duckwing?
A. Try and find some stock and improve it. Otherwise make a cross with a compatible breed of Silver Duckwing colouring and a Black or White Araucana as the Silver Duckwing only has two colours in it's make-up, black and white. Breeds which could be used are Silver Welsummer or Silver Duckwing Old English Game or similar. Of the progeny produced keep birds which are similar in colouring to your aim, but again, large numbers will have to be produced because there will be double problems achieving the correct colour and eradicating the alien breed and it's characteristics.
The next cross will be onto a black-Red or Gold Duckwing (Yellow Partridge). Breed enough and out will pop a few Silver Duckwing. Cross these together to set the colour. Cull all other colours.
Q. How do I create the Spangled?
A. Similar to above, If you cross a Black with a White you will get Blacks with White feathers. Keep these and breed together until more White appears. This colour will be better known as mottled. In many breeds there are many forms of Spangling. Decide which you want and breed with it. Remember the more you hatch the quicker you will arrive at the new colour.
Q. My Black-Red stock are now producing yellow legs. What should I do?
A. Cross back to the original stock with olive legs and disregard all further progeny with yellow legs. The original female with yellow legs must have alien blood in her make-up.
Over the many years that I have been breeding different varieties of poultry I like nothing more than experimenting and improving. The main thing required is time, a little finance and patience. Time and time again I hear of people giving up after the first cross because they are getting nowhere. The first cross usually produces something useful then the next few generations can go haywire. This is when one has to breed many and cull about 90%. Eventually the percentage of culls drops if you are following the right lines. Then. Hay Presto- the end product.
Richard J. Billson 22.9.00
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