BLUE WYANDOTTES, choosing the flock sire...

[Ontario Chick]

The plan was to keep one Blue cockerel from July 2013, hatch for possible breeding.
Somewhere around 3-4month of age it became painfully obvious that the Leader on comb of the Blue is going to point in the wrong direction, so I held back a Splash, just in case.
Both the "Bachelor Brothers" have lovely disposition, and although the Splash looks bigger, the Blue is actually heavier and more solid.
I don't want to use the Splash for breeding, I want to use the Blue one.
I am developing a split personality, while staring at their combs.
Any insights?

Wyandotte cockerel 2013

This was my post in 2013 that I came across while pulling some pictures of PSO before it closes.
On advice of Peter Atkin, Joan (Chita) and .dave. all experienced breeders, I went with the Splash, although I really really wanted to use the Blue for breeding.
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So here we are in 2015 and i finally got my Blue Wyandotte herd Sire, and I must say he was well worth waiting for, and the advice was right, you do have to build the barn before you paint it. :)

Wyandotte Blue cockerel 2015

[Home Grown Poultry]

Beautiful! Congrats OC!!!

[Ontario Chick]

Well, won't see how beautiful until he produces offspring's, but I found it interesting that I saw what I wanted to see until input from PSO members made me look at what was actually there all the time.
Input from other breeders is invaluable and I wouldn't have had access to Peter Atkin, Joan and .dave. experience and point of view, and if it wasn't for PSO.

[windwalkingwolf]

:rooster7: Did you breed him from Splash? He's a NICE looking bird, type is head and shoulders over the cock you *almost* used 2 years ago, comb issues aside. Well done!

[Cuttlefish]

He's gorgeous OC!
So was it just the comb issue, or was there more to it than that?

[Syble]

hahahaha, yay i picked the right one, the splash was a hands down winner for me hehe

[Robbie]

OC he's just lovely! Congratulations.

[Ontario Chick]

This was Peter Atkin comment...
Hmmm, a dilemna indeed Hana. From the pics, I'd pick the splash. Not only does he have a better head, but I like his conformation better as well. Curvier, wider across the back and shoulders, better breast. Perhaps a different set of pics would help. The points for the head are a big part of the evaluation process, 20% or better. Sometimes something like that upright spike can make the whole head appear different, pulling it off balance. On the other hand, focussing so much on one facet of the bird can lead to mistakes when selecting for the brood pen.

If the splash cockeral is still within the required weight range, he's the one I'd pick.

It was mainly TYPE that was driving my decision, since these are production birds the comb isn't that important to me, that said I like to breed to SOP after all that's the only guidelines I have.
Yes Jan, he is out of F2 Splash, and his grand dams.

[Syble]

its always type first! you can have the most correct colour and lacing etc, but if the shapes not there, the animal is ruined! And it goes for everything....and theres your end result proof it works :)

[Ontario Chick]

I remember your post Syble, with comparison between Hatchery birds and "Standard Bred Birds" (bread to SOP)
What an amazing difference, it really brought home the importance of Type.
Interestingly, it wasn't until F2, I got a good Blue male and no leakage so in the process of looking for good type I have accidentally isolated other things. Curiouser and curiouser.