I currently have 3 pairs of Dilute Blue Masked. 4 of them are Mediums, 1 has no dark factors, and 1 is a double dark or Slate Dilute Masked. At the end of this year I will be colony breeding them as many of the eyring species do much better in a colony type setting. One of the things to try and select and breed for are Dilute birds with very even markings.
Breeding Goals: Produce show quality Dilute Blue Masked.
This picture was taken in 2005. In general male masked are a little bit larger than female masked, but in the case above, this hen was a very large hen, larger than any other masked I have ever seen.
Here is a picture of the 2 Medium Dilute Blue Masked and 2 black-cheeked. They are not normally kept together. The hen in the first picture is the 2nd bird from the left. Notice how much bigger she is than her mate. The flash has made the coloring on the birds appear lighter than they actually are. Both of these birds have 1 dark factor. I think adding a dark factor brings out a deeper blue into the birds. 2 dark factors will produce a grey bird, but you will still be able to see the dilute markings though.
- Here is the hen again. She stands so gracefully and elegantly.