Partridge, Blue Partridge, and Splash Partridge
Partridge Brahmas were the first variety here at Feather & Fern Farmstead. We have been working with them for several years and have seen tremendous improvement in our line. Hens have the same stunning penciling as dark Brahmas, but on a gold base rather than silver. Roosters are a brightly colored mix of iridescent black, gold, and red. Our partridge project also includes blue partridge. Blue partridge is the result of a single copy of a diluting gene (Andalusian blue) changing the black pattern to a blue-gray. Quality of penciling is severely lacking in blue partridges in the US so improving this has been a large focus of our breeding program. Depending on the year and our breeding pen arrangement, we may also be hatching splash partridge. Splash partridge is the result of two copies of the same diluting gene changing the black to near white with flecks of blue-gray.
The Benefit of Dark Brahmas
As one of the few standard varieties, there are established exhibition lines of dark Brahmas that are far better quality than any partridge you are likely to find in the US. We regularly cross to high quality darks to improve type and pattern in our partridge line. Depending on the exact makeup of the breeding pen in a given year, this can result in our partridge pen also hatching BSO and/or DSO.
Cream Partridge, Cream Blue Partridge, and Cream Splash Partridge
Crossing to dark Brahmas has also introduced a recessive gold inhibitor gene to our partridge line, resulting in the occasional rare and beautiful cream partridges. We do not know of any established lines of cream partridge Brahmas in the world. They will continue to pop up from time to time in our partridge line and we hope our customers enjoy them as an exciting surprise just as we do!
Partridge Brahmas were the first variety here at Feather & Fern Farmstead. We have been working with them for several years and have seen tremendous improvement in our line. Hens have the same stunning penciling as dark Brahmas, but on a gold base rather than silver. Roosters are a brightly colored mix of iridescent black, gold, and red. Our partridge project also includes blue partridge. Blue partridge is the result of a single copy of a diluting gene (Andalusian blue) changing the black pattern to a blue-gray. Quality of penciling is severely lacking in blue partridges in the US so improving this has been a large focus of our breeding program. Depending on the year and our breeding pen arrangement, we may also be hatching splash partridge. Splash partridge is the result of two copies of the same diluting gene changing the black to near white with flecks of blue-gray.
The Benefit of Dark Brahmas
As one of the few standard varieties, there are established exhibition lines of dark Brahmas that are far better quality than any partridge you are likely to find in the US. We regularly cross to high quality darks to improve type and pattern in our partridge line. Depending on the exact makeup of the breeding pen in a given year, this can result in our partridge pen also hatching BSO and/or DSO.
Cream Partridge, Cream Blue Partridge, and Cream Splash Partridge
Crossing to dark Brahmas has also introduced a recessive gold inhibitor gene to our partridge line, resulting in the occasional rare and beautiful cream partridges. We do not know of any established lines of cream partridge Brahmas in the world. They will continue to pop up from time to time in our partridge line and we hope our customers enjoy them as an exciting surprise just as we do!
