BLUE LIGHT BROWN
the female color

On the male Blue Light Brown the black breast and tail of the Light Brown are modified to be blue, the breast laced with darker blue. When this dilution of black takes place changing to blue, the other colors (the red complex) appear to be lessened in intensity. Therefore the hackle and saddle of the male, and the hackle and breast of the female BLB are usually less intense or softer in color. The female back is also less intense or bright. The medium brown of the Light Brown female becomes a lighter, duller brown in the Blue Light Brown female. The black stipples become blue stipples. The blue stipples add to the lightening of the overall brown color. Therefore the back of the female BLB should be an even soft golden brown. This color should be as even as possible out to the edge of each feather with no lacing or frosting; the blue stippling should also be as even and fine as possible out to the edge of the feather, with no vermiculation (worm like markings).

Q: If my BLB females do not show any brown or very little brown, how can I breed the correct color?
A: Many breeders prefer to breed LB to BLB, which gives 50% LB and 50% BLB. The LB should carry the trait to have a brown female back. A good BLB pullet should show some brown by 5 months old. If, by laying age, the BLB pullet still does not show some brown, perhaps it would be better to breed a BLB male to LB females.

Q: Are there any traits on a male which would indicate the possibility of producing brown backed females?
A: Not that any one knows. Males that produce blue females and those that produce brown females show no differences.

Q: If I do have brown females, how do I breed the most BLB’s
A: Once your BLB’s are the proper color, then breed BLB to BLB to achieve LB/BLB/Splash. Breed the LB to BLB Splash to produce 100% BLB chicks (a few % exceptions will occur) Some breeders think the blue stippling will be enhanced by this mating, but not the brown backs on females.

Q: What is the proper shade of blue on BLB?
A: The standards call for medium blue, the male breast feathers to be laced with darker blue. The best breeding male BLB should have the best medium blue tail and breast with lacing. Sometimes it appears that the blue on the tail is much darker than the blue on the breast. We should strive for the same shade of blue on male tail and breast.

Q: Does the shade of blue (light or dark) have an influence on the female brown back?
A: Yes, but the reason is unknown. The lighter blue tailed BLB females seem to have a lighter brown back. Part of the reason could be that the stipples are also the lighter blue, giving an overall lighter appearance. The female with a dark blue tail color seems to be darker brown on her back. Again we should strive for a medium blue tail color.

Q: My very young BLB pullets look more blue – will they change ?
A: Probably. Many breeders are disappointed with the color on the very young pullets, but by 5 months old, many pullets will develop some brown back color. It has been noted by some that a good 3 year old hen has the best color. The BLB variety seems to improve with age, especially the females.

Q: How many years of selecting for brown backs will it take?
A: One, hopefully, if you use a BLB male on LB females. A BLB hen without at least half brown feathers on her back probably isn’t going to help your breeding program.

Q: Between molts on mature females, I see a few different colored feathers, kinda like splotching. Is this a bad trait?
A: A few off colored feathers (dark or light blue, or brown) can occur on mature females. Generally these will not be seen when fresh feathers grow in after a molt. If the “splotched” appearance is very noticeable, perhaps it would be better to breed away from those hens and with the ones more evenly colored most of the time. Some of this effect could be environmental, sun and feed enhanced. Sun bleached feathers that have not been replaced with new feathers during a molt will look strange until the molt is complete. This “splotching” has been seen on other lighter varieties such as Blue Silver, Blue Golden, Blue, it is not unique to BLB.

I am attaching two photos of my BLB females. Please note the poses are not good, but these were to illustrate the color as best my camera will do. Please also excuse the mice eaten tail feathers.

Photo l (r) is my personal choice of the best color I have of a BLB hen. She is 3 years old. Her blue tail is probably a little on the light side, but I really appreciate the golden brown, mostly even, color of her back.

Photo 2 (l) is a younger hen who has a darker tail, probably about medium blue. She also has a darker brown back without the golden look. Some breeders think this is the preferred color for BLB female back.