Newbie to IRN breeding...tons of questions!?! please help

[nyhawaiian]

Hi All,

I am new to breeding IRNs. Need advice on proper pairings to get different colors. Here is what I have as far as breeding age birds:
Cocks:
Albino
Lutino
SF Grey
Blue/Ino
Blue/Cin

Hens:
Lutino/Blue
Lutino/Blue
DF Grey
DF Grey
Blue

Please let me know the best way to pair these birds.
One more question Do both parents incubate the eggs? If the cock is removed from the pair and they have eggs will the hen continue to incubate, hatch and feed the young without a cock present? I know this is true with Lovebirds from my experience.

Thanks so much in advance!
Randall

[333greenbean333]

Hi,
The cock should stay with the hen while she is laying/sitting as the male feeds her and gives the nutrients that the hen bird needs. so I would keep the cock bird in.

pairing this is what i would do.

1.0 albino x 0.1 ino /blue

% from all 1.0
50.0% 1.0 blue ino (albino)
50.0% 1.0 ino /blue (lutino)
% from all 0.1
50.0% 0.1 blue ino (albino)
50.0% 0.1 ino /blue (lutino)


1.0 blue /cinnamon x 0.1 blue

% from all 1.0
50.0% 1.0 blue /cinnamon
50.0% 1.0 blue
% from all 0.1
50.0% 0.1 blue
50.0% 0.1 blue cinnamon



1.0 ino x 0.1 ino /blue

% from all 1.0
50.0% 1.0 ino
50.0% 1.0 ino /blue
% from all 0.1
50.0% 0.1 ino
50.0% 0.1 ino /blue




1.0 grey(sf) blue x 0.1 grey(df) blue

% from all 1.0
50.0% 1.0 grey(df) blue
50.0% 1.0 grey(sf) blue

% from all 0.1
50.0% 0.1 grey(df) blue
50.0% 0.1 grey(sf) blue





1.0 blue /ino x 0.1 grey(df) blue

% from all 1.0
50.0% 1.0 grey(sf) blue /ino
50.0% 1.0 grey(sf) blue
% from all 0.1
50.0% 0.1 grey(sf) blue ino (albino masking grey)
50.0% 0.1 grey(sf) blue



If you after more colours. I would go for turquoise and lacewings and you can mix colours nicely then.

hope this helps,
David

[nyhawaiian]

Thanks David for the advice and pairings. I will set them up as such. Problem here in my part of the world is that Turq and lacewings are few and far between.