Breeding Splash to the Orpington Standard = birds that carry the silver gene
# update - in 2017 this colour is still not recognised in the APS* for Orpingtons

* Australian Poultry Standard
​
by the Cuckoo Stud
# this is the authors opinion only

this is written in case the only cockerel/rooster available is one that carries the gold gene
there are cockerels and roosters out there that carry the silver gene but owners are hesitant to re-house these birds
it is most often easier to acquire hens that carry silver
so you are responsible for breeding your own Splash that carry silver

if the only Splash cockerel or rooster I could acquire as a starter bird carried the gold gene and if I wanted my Splash to meet
​the Orpington Standard (the Orpington Standard for Splash states clearly as a serious defect = 'no yellowing or sappiness in feathers allowed' = the gold gene causes the yellow/sappiness) - - - - - - - - 


my long term plan would be to set up 3 pens = 

the first task would be to find hens that carry silver NOT gold = 
take the time to find the hens as Type comes from the hens = DO NOT settle !!!!!!!

1 with 2 Blue hens (both to carry silver)
1 with 2 Splash hens (both to carry silver)
1 with 2 Black hens (both to carry silver) 
note that offspring from all matings need to be grown out to at least 10 to 11mths
to be able to assess for both Type and if they carry the gold OR silver gene

I would move the Splash lad into each pen each day = he only needs to be in each pen for abt 2hrs each day


pen 1 = this lad over a couple of Typey (referring and adhering closely to the Standard of Perfection) Blue hens (hens NOT pullets) that carry the silver gene = offspring 50/50 Splash/Blue and 50/50 for gold and silver gene = I would keep the best silver gene in both colours/sexes for later use - - - - - - - - 


pen 2 = put this lad over a couple of Typey Splash hens (again hens NOT pullets) all should be Splash = I would keep the best silver gene in both sexes for later use - - - - - - - - 


pen 3 = put this lad over 2 Typey Black hens (yet again hens NOT pullets) that carrying the silver gene = offspring all blue 50/50 silver/gold gene = I would keep the best silver gene in both sexes for later use - - - - - - - -


the offspring would give 3 distinct but semi related 'pens' of birds (related via the Splash lad) - - - - - - - - 


I would then go on to mate the best from each 'pen' as a brother/sister mating of each 'pen' = always choosing the best offspring that carry the silver gene - - - - - - - - 


I would also cross mate the 'pens' Splash to Blue and Splash to Splash only keeping offspring that are both Splash and carrying the silver gene - - - - - - - - 


ultimately having Splash that closely match the Standard of Perfection for Type and colour requirement by not displaying any yellow or sappiness (aka the gold gene) 


alternately you can exclusively use Blues from above matings but you have to ensure you choose only those Blues that have good colour that closely matches the Standard of Perfection (medium to dark Slate Blue preferably with good lacing as this is also a requirement) to get Blues that carry the silver gene 

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