Wyandotte Combs

I have 6 very nice BLRW pullets from MMcM. They are about 5 months old now. I noticed that 3 of them have this little bump at the top of their comb. The other 3 have perfect wyandotte rose combs. The 3 with the bump have normal combs too, aside from this little.. bump. Its perfect round, right at the very top. Their combs dont form the little point theyre supposed to. Bump instead. No pics sorry, ill search google, see if I find anything similar.

I am going to assume this is heriditary? So I should get rid of these 3, not use them in the breeding pen next year like I had planned? They are all very nice pullets, would be such a shame. Id like to know what caused this.

Ahhh the Wyandotte comb! I've had my bout with the telescoping comb. Very frustrating and I appear to be a little comb 'picky'. I decided not to use my roo with the 'imperfect' comb but others might and then breed it out later. I would rather just start with a good comb. Personal choice It would be great to see a picture if at all possible.

XOX Monika

I have a slw from same place who got dq'd for telescoping comb. It's too bad really as her lacing and size is really nice!
I would not breed them as it seems to be passed along easily.

Anne

i wouldnt breed from it either. my line of white rocks has stubs, and even though some of the birds that have it are real good, they all are getting culled.

I tend to agree with the others on this. I know in another thread I have said I would use a bad comb, but I think in your case it is best to use one of your birds with a good comb.
The comb sounds like it may be telescoping comb. I think there are enough good combed, nice typed wyandottes out there that you shouldn`t have to use a comb fault in your line and pay the price in the years to come.
I like to hear all of the conscious breeders doing the right thing with their selection to improve their flocks. It means we are really going to be getting some nice lines of birds in the next few years!
If you decide to use a bird with a fault, do it with eyes open. Expect heavy culling for some years and surprises that could pop up later. If you are not game for this just don`t do it. Definately don`t sell day olds to people the year you do it and have them deal with the troubles, that`s for sure.

coopslave i agree! even on the birds that dont have it there is a chance it is in their bloodline because they all are from the same place.

Very good advice Coopslave. It's good to see people thinking a little before they put the birds in the breeding pens and questioning what are the good and more importantly the bad points of the birds they are thinking of using in their program. If people continue to do this it will help improve so many breeds in western Canada.

Heather

Well I can guarantee its not telescoping comb. I need to get pics. It looks like a round bump, like a pimple lol Not sure how else to explain it. The other pullets go into the pretty point theyre supposed to, these just have that bump. Ill see if I can get some pics tomorrow. I am not going to use them in the breeding pen. Just add to my layer flock! Only thing they will make is my future laying birds... which are mutts

But anyhow, I am just really curious what causes this. Is it some throwback to some crossbred in there somewhere or what. Its almost like theres 1 point of a single comb that wants to come in, but its not that big, I only just noticed them about a week ago, took this long for them to get big enough to really notice. I look at those chooks pretty little heads every morning lol

DoubleSSranch- If you got a picture of one of the good combs as well as the ones you are questioning for comparision sake that would be good.

Heather

viczoe wrote:DoubleSSranch- If you got a picture of one of the good combs as well as the ones you are questioning for comparision sake that would be good.

Heather

I will do that this morning when I do chores They come flying out of the tractor at me, hopefully I can catch the right ones Friendly little critters they are

(p.s. heather I want to bug you about your bantam rocks... see if you may have any pairs comming up)