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Is there anything fun I can do with ...

post #1 of 17
11/20/11 at 7:15pm
Thread Starter 

I got a couple of Austra White (Australorp X White Leghorn) pullets this last spring.  Down was white/yellow with maybe 5-8 randomly-placed little black dots.  Adult plumage is a white bird with a few black feathers where the dots were on the down, with black legs also.  The white feathers are very lightly peppered with black which isn't noticeable unless you are really close up.

One of these pullets has developed gray splotches instead of black.  So I'm wondering if I could make something interesting next spring with this bird with crossings.  Can I pull the blue (or lavender or whatever) out and make another color of hen to join my little flock?

Btw, what is the gray?  Is it blue?  Is it lavender?  Is it something else?


Edited by Sparklee - 12/11/11 at 1:52pm
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post #2 of 17
11/21/11 at 6:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparklee 

I got a couple of Austra White (Australorp X White Leghorn) pullets this last spring.  Down was white/yellow with maybe 5-8 randomly-placed little black dots.  Adult plumage is a white bird with a few black feathers where the dots were on the down, with black legs also.


what you described is a heterozygous Dominant white bird.(only one copy of Dominant white coming from white leghorn parent)
http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j437/nicalandia/cal_white_chicks.jpg


Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparklee 

If those diluted black splotches on the Austra White hen are lavender, I think the chicken calculator is telling me that I could get lavender chickens in two generations or maybe even speckled lavender.


Sorry no Lavender in them, white leghorns are known to hide andalusian blue(Bl/Bl) sex link Silver, Mottling and Barring. they don't show that because Dominant white hides them all...wink

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post #3 of 17
11/21/11 at 10:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicalandia 

Sorry no Lavender in them, white leghorns are known to hide andalusian blue(Bl/Bl) sex link Silver, Mottling and Barring. they don't show that because Dominant white hides them all...wink


Thank you for your reply. 

So do you happen to know why the splotches on one hen are black and the other hen has gray splotches? 

Also, if the Hetero (I assume) dominant white hides all that other stuff, why doesn't the dominant white hide the black splotches also?


Edited by Sparklee - 12/11/11 at 1:54pm
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post #4 of 17
11/21/11 at 11:36am

Also, if the Hetero (I assume) dominant white hides all that other stuff, why doesn't the dominant white hide the black splotches also?


White is really black!

draye's Swap Page:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/my-swapping-page

 

 

 

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draye's Swap Page:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/my-swapping-page

 

 

 

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post #5 of 17
11/21/11 at 11:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparklee 

if the Hetero (I assume) dominant white hides all that other stuff, why doesn't the dominant white hide the black splotches also? 
.


Because your chicks are Heterozygotes and don't have 2 copies of Domiant white. so they are "Leaking" color thru. why some have black and some have blue spots? your white leghorns could be Heterozygous for the Andalusian Blue gene(Bl/bl+) giving you 50% chance of black leakage and 50% blue leakage..

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post #6 of 17
11/21/11 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicalandia 

could be Heterozygous for the Andalusian Blue gene(Bl/bl+) giving you 50% chance of black leakage and 50% blue leakage..


Okay.  That's a relief.  That's making more sense to me now.

So I'm going to guess that she's got some blue in her on some level. 

Anyway, I appreciate your help.  Thanks.

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post #7 of 17
11/21/11 at 12:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by draye 

White is really black!


Ha.  Ultimately.

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post #8 of 17
11/21/11 at 1:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparklee 
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicalandia 

could be Heterozygous for the Andalusian Blue gene(Bl/bl+) giving you 50% chance of black leakage and 50% blue leakage..


Okay.  That's a relief.  That's making more sense to me now.

So I'm going to guess that she's got some blue in her on some level. 

Anyway, I appreciate your help.  Thanks.


that is correct, she can be blue, barred, mottled and not show it because Dominant white is hiding it.. Dominant white is a powerful melanin diluter

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post #9 of 17
11/21/11 at 2:56pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicalandia 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparklee 

if the Hetero (I assume) dominant white hides all that other stuff, why doesn't the dominant white hide the black splotches also? 
.


Because your chicks are Heterozygotes and don't have 2 copies of Domiant white. so they are "Leaking" color thru. why some have black and some have blue spots? your white leghorns could be Heterozygous for the Andalusian Blue gene(Bl/bl+) giving you 50% chance of black leakage and 50% blue leakage..


Also, dominant white is a VERY leaky gene, whereas recessive white is far less leaky.

Breeder & Exhibitor of fine silkies in Black, Blue, Splash, Grey, Partridge & Lavender.  Working on Dun, Mottled, Partridge dilutions, Paint, Porcelain & other exciting new colours
adult and started pairs occasionally available;   No eggs or chicks. 
Support your local poultry clubs, breed clubs, ABA & APA!

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Breeder & Exhibitor of fine silkies in Black, Blue, Splash, Grey, Partridge & Lavender.  Working on Dun, Mottled, Partridge dilutions, Paint, Porcelain & other exciting new colours
adult and started pairs occasionally available;   No eggs or chicks. 
Support your local poultry clubs, breed clubs, ABA & APA!

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post #10 of 17
11/21/11 at 2:58pm

White (regardless of whether dominant or recessive) is an OFF switch that prevents the expression of colour & pattern genes that are present in the bird.

Breeder & Exhibitor of fine silkies in Black, Blue, Splash, Grey, Partridge & Lavender.  Working on Dun, Mottled, Partridge dilutions, Paint, Porcelain & other exciting new colours
adult and started pairs occasionally available;   No eggs or chicks. 
Support your local poultry clubs, breed clubs, ABA & APA!

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Breeder & Exhibitor of fine silkies in Black, Blue, Splash, Grey, Partridge & Lavender.  Working on Dun, Mottled, Partridge dilutions, Paint, Porcelain & other exciting new colours
adult and started pairs occasionally available;   No eggs or chicks. 
Support your local poultry clubs, breed clubs, ABA & APA!

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