Q: What exactly constitutes a purebred chicken?

Hi,
I like the Light Sussex. They are based on the Wheaten allele. eWh/eWh S/S Co/Co . This formula means they have 2 copies of the Wheaten allele, 2 copies of the Silver gene and 2 copies of the Columbian gene. Why do we care? Silver Columbian birds built on the eb (Brown) allele require color balancing of the underfluff in order to create proper color in the top layer of plumage. In Wheaten based Silver Columbians this is not the case. The birds plumage is white to the skin and no balancing is necessary. This makes this variety an easy one for beginners. 2 copies of the Silver gene means the birds will not get a "brassy" cast to the white feathers due to feed or weather. 2 copies of the Columbian gene means the black is restricted to the neck, tail, and a small number of the wing feathers. This keeps the black out of the white body areas and creates a crisp clean look to the eye. Now it is possible to have black stippling appear in the white areas, however this is due to allowing too much black in the hackle rather then the allele upon which the variety is based.
Here is a nice 9 page treatise on the Light Sussex written long ago by a storied judge and breeder. One of 3 brothers by the same last name who were noted in the British poultry world, this author was a Judge for the Sussex Poultry Club and later when on to become President of the British Poultry Club. I love this little treatise and have read it often It is so applicable even today.
The Light Sussex.
By William White Broomhead
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003137332;view=1up;seq=5
By the way, this is one of my fav search libraries. Lots of great poultry info in it.
Easy to search and read in multiple formats. Note the other editor, W. Powell Owen,
I have found his writing very enlightening and educational.

Tho both my strains of pure English Light Sussex are SQ, I don't have anything available this year. However, I was conversing with Walt Leonard a short time back.
http://www.webring.org/l/rd?ring=poultry;id=184;url=http://www.rosecomb.com/fowlman/index2.html
Walt judges Sussex all over the Nation. He was commenting on some fine quality Light Sussex he had seen in California, where he lives. Why not contact him and see what falls out of the tree? He is also Chairman of the APA Standards Committee. I cannot stress too highly how important it is to start with the highest quality possible. Because of all the sex-linked genes in poultry, it can take lot of time and $$ to upgrade inferior stock. It's not like mammals where there are so very few sex-linked genes.

Best Success,
Karen

Thank you for the great information 3riverschick. I have a lot do studying to do regarding color genetics in poultry. I come from a ranching background so color genetics are very straightforward in both cattle and horses, basically two main colors with a few variations. I'm sure poultry is straightforward there are just so many varieties and , as you mentioned, sex linked traits. I will likely be looking for some stock in the future but at this point I am content to do a lot of studying. Once I feel reasonably comfortable that I can make positive genetic choices the first money I spend will be on a Standard of Perfection followed by some infrastructure, breeding pens etc. This Forum has been a great resource!

Thanks

nsscchd said:

Thank you for the great information 3riverschick. I have a lot do studying to do regarding color genetics in poultry. I come from a ranching background so color genetics are very straightforward in both cattle and horses, basically two main colors with a few variations. I'm sure poultry is straightforward there are just so many varieties and , as you mentioned, sex linked traits. I will likely be looking for some stock in the future but at this point I am content to do a lot of studying. Once I feel reasonably comfortable that I can make positive genetic choices the first money I spend will be on a Standard of Perfection followed by some infrastructure, breeding pens etc. This Forum has been a great resource!

Thanks

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More than welcome. You might want to move on the stock sooner than later. This avian flu has a lot of effect lately with a bunch of States closing all poultry exhibitions. Personally, I think we might see a ban on interstate poultry movements in the near future because of it. You only need a trio or quad to start. You can always keep them "on hold" at your place while you learn and before you build a bigger infrastructure. Besides, it's a great way to get to know your chosen strain while you are readying a breeding program. And... you will be on track to hatch eggs with the rest of us next Spring.
Best,
Karen

3riverschick said:

More than welcome. You might want to move on the stock sooner than later. This avian flu has a lot of effect lately with a bunch of States closing all poultry exhibitions. Personally, I think we might see a ban on interstate poultry movements in the near future because of it. You only need a trio or quad to start. You can always keep them "on hold" at your place while you learn and before you build a bigger infrastructure. Besides, it's a great way to get to know your chosen strain while you are readying a breeding program. And... you will be on track to hatch eggs with the rest of us next Spring.
Best,
Karen

Click to expand...

I hadn't even thought about the possibility of not being able to get stock across state lines because of the bird flu. I'm waiting to go to some Fall poultry shows before making up my mind about what I want to breed and to get an idea of what good stock should look like but they might be cancelled if the flu makes it down here.

Unfortunately I am in one of the states that has banned poultry shows and other such events. Private sales have not been affected but I hear your point. I really want to do justice to the breed I choose by knowing as much as I can about breeding poultry. If I can find a good trio I would buy it and start my program and as long as I kept the original trio, no harm done if I make some wrong turns. I guess at this point I am officially in search for some Show Quality Light Sussex. I will follow up on your suggestion and if anyone hears of any other leads I would greatly appreciate having my name in the back of their mind.
Thanks!

Talk to Walt Leonard. I have looked extensively. Some of the birds that have been winning at he shows are only winning because of lack of competition. It can be like that with Light Sussex. But these ones in Calif. that Walt saw? They won in quality competition, as I understand. I think you really might find something special there. And if you can still get chicks in or started birds, go for it. Even if all you do is "hold" them till next year when you decide to breed.
Best,
Karen