I'm so lost cause I can't seem to find speciFic answers when googling. So I thought I'd try here. I'm understanding a bit about what makes what but i cant seem to simply find "how do i know what is recessive and what is dominant in my bird?"
I feel as though this is either one of those it isn't that simple or oh here's a chart kind of questions lol.
Thanks!
Jerry is correct...go slow...and what I found is by the time I learned something up real good, they discovered something else that disproved it (the w chromosome does not necessarily determine gender in birds...agh!). Be in flux and always prove it to yourself in your bird breeding pens. What may work for others might not work in your situation and if you hear hoofbeats, don't immediately think zebras...keep it simple if able.
A quick google search netted me this...the second link has pictures...pictures and live birds rock for me on how to learn things!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dominance_(genetics)
http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/recessive.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZW_sex-determination_system
Wikipedia is a great source for both complex and simple ways to study...not always correct but a good place to begin to have fun...and yeh, it does get to be FUN as things click and fall into place. What is very kewl is when you begin on genetics alot is transferrable to other species...so what I learned in dogs can work in ruminants, birds with other fine hiccups, but you can build on your knowledge. Have FUN!
Doggone & Chicken UP!
Tara Lee Higgins
Higgins Rat Ranch Conservation Farm, Alberta, Canada