I’m struggling with adding copper to my pullets. Would using a male with too much color,Or more than 10% chest leakage add color to my pullets, or would I end up with mossy
chicks? I’ve been culling all males that have chest leakage, as a result my males have little to no chest leakage (what I wanted) but now I’m wondering if I should have kept a couple
Here is a pic of a pullet hatched late May 2019 showing good copper.
To put copper hackles on the females use a BCM Coq with copper eat tufts, hackle and saddle feathers, a full red shoulder and at least 15% copper leakage on the breast. You will get some mossy chicks. In my line I have found that chicks with just a touch of mossiness will molt out when they’re juvenile. I agree with Jay, separate lines for Pullets and cockerels will allow you to work on multiple characteristics simultaneousl.
You could try breeding two separate lines. One for females and one for males. Try a male with a little chest color and copper ear tuffs. It's a balancing act.
I stay away from chest leakage myself. Strong copper hackles🐓