I have a possible clearbody hen Trixie. She's dark green opaline and a badly marked clearbody, meaning a lot of green suffusion in her body. She is something between a Texas clearbody and an Easley clearbody. She has black markings like an Easley clearbody would have (no grey at all exept the opaline patch in her wing feathers) but she has violet/blue cheek patches like a Texas clearbody would have. Easley would have them grey or grey blue.

 

I have been adviced by a clearbody breeder to breed her with a normal green cock. I now have to possibilities where to choose from.

 

Ukko is normal green cock split ino, blue and possibly opaline. 3 years old, no breeding experience. Healthy and quite tame.

 

Hulk is normal green violet cock split ino, blue, greywing and also has the yellow face gene. 5 years old. bred two clutches with a same hen all healthy good sized chics. Healthy, not tame.

 

Trixie dark green opaline clearbody. 4 - 5 years, bred once.

 

So, what do you think?? I hope someone has an opinion...

Falki, I am no expert on appearance on who to pick but since you have the hens' background you could work through the expections and decide which expection you would want the most?

Breed TCB hen to Ino cock Or a Normal Split to ino :hap:

 

You should get at least one out of the clutch

I don't know about the hens background, I've had her only a few months and before that she's been in several places. I've only heard from a previous owner that she's had chicks in another place before hers... So I don't know how those chicks looked like. And it's only a guess she's a clearbody, she might be something else too. But. I guess I should maybe go for the more experienced cock...?

 

Neat: That's why I think it's good both cocks are split inos. At least Hulk, as he's produced ino hens. Ukko's mother was a lutino.

Edited September 11, 200816 yr by falki

She seems on the OLD side of breeding to me though

So you think it's a bad idea try breeding... She's is a bit old yes, but had one clutch before, according to the previous owner, so she wouldn't be a first timer at least.

She seems on the OLD side of breeding to me though

I agree with Neat

Maybe I shouldn't try it then. In that picture though she's in the sick cage and on antibiotics because she was missing one toe when she came to me. At the moment she's one of the most liveliest hens I have in my flock, though you can notice she's older compared to 1 - 2 years old hens by the way she perches.

 

Here are few better pictures, that was the only one I had online and I was lazy to put prettier ones...

 

But if you really think I shouldn't breed with her, I would like to know, please!Here she's now a few week ago. Now when she's put together with other birds (I tried to breed with my only couple I have and it didn't succeed so now all the birds are together again with my only cock) her cere has become stronger brown and she's being very noisy! I thought it might soon have been good time for breeding...

 

 

Her cere now

Edited September 11, 200816 yr by falki

Your choice of course. BUT hens as they age are more susceptible to egg laying and chick raising issues.

I retire ALL my hens at 4 yrs of age.

Your choice of course. BUT hens as they age are more susceptible to egg laying and chick raising issues.

I retire ALL my hens at 4 yrs of age.

 

 

4 years old is too old for a hen???? They can live for 10 to 20 years can't they??? So for breeding purposes, hens only have two good years in them?

Yes and No - There is a lot of grey area in that ... It really depends on YOU as a Breeder and your BIRD as a breeder

 

- I have been told ( so probably a load of bollocks ) that some breeders still breed Hens at 6 years old

- But yes 3 - 4 years of breeding at 2 - 3 clutches per year -

 

If your Hen is in TOP FORM and TOP HEALTH with NO complication to raising bubs or to her self then 4 - 5 Years OLD is fine

So i have been told :yellowhead: -( double check with more Experienced breeders though )

 

But the Fertility rates drop - hatch-ability levels get lowered ...They become more bored in a Nest box so any chick that do hatch are prone to being neglected or picked on

 

So When you add them up it isn't worth the risk to breed over 4 years old -

 

UNLESS SHE IS A SUPREME CHAMPION HEN then in that case I HAVE FIRST DIBS

5 years is really too old for breeding a hen but I would be inclined to risk it if there's no other hen available and she is fit. Personally I would mate her to an ino and be ready to foster out some of the chicks. You won't get any TCB chicks from her but 1 of her sons might throw some.

Thank you everyone for your opinions. I know wouldn't breed her if she was just a normal coloured bird, because of her age. Clearbodies just are non existent here in Finland and when I spotted this bird in a pet shop and asked around about her and when there's a suspicion she might be a cleabody, even though a badly marked one, I thought I should give her a try.

 

I have only these split ino cocks to choose from and I have read that theres a 25% possibily that one of the chicks turned out clearbody (a cock). I will try breeding another couple at the same time, if it seems something won't work out I could give them the eggs and in anyways try to be prepared for the worst... I think maybe the best choice would be the cock who has experience and has also taken care of chicks alone as his previous partner plucked the little ones and had to be removed. He handled the chicks well alone.

 

I hope too many of you won't judge me hard.