Genetics of White Earlobes?

[3KillerBs]

I have a pullet that I *thought* was a Black Australorp (from 2 blues), but she's on the small side and has white earlobes. The butt check and her having moved onto the main roost suggests that she's laying but all the pullet eggs are medium-to-light brown so I can't tell which is hers.

I'd *thought* I'd identified all of the chicks from my California White's eggs -- one Birchen girl, one white boy, and one barred boy. But maybe I was wrong?

I haven't seen a clear answer about the genetics of white earlobes. Would they have to have come from the California White (my only white earlobed, white-laying bird)? Or are they a recessive that could have been hidden in the flock? I *presume* that the blue color of my Australorps originally came from Blue Andalusians, which have white earlobes.

Can anyone helps?

 

[Sally PB]

Love the genetic discussions. I learn so much!

 

[raingarden]

The ancestral junglefowl had prominent white earlobes. I have been trying to select for it but it sure doesn't act like a dominant characteristic.

 

[nicalandia]

White earlobe is a polygenic trait, and some of those genes are sex linked.

Inheritance of Earlobe Color in Poultry​

https://eurekamag.com/research/024/865/024865079.php

 

[3KillerBs]

White earlobe is a polygenic trait, and some of those genes are sex linked.

Inheritance of Earlobe Color in Poultry​

https://eurekamag.com/research/024/865/024865079.php

Thank you. I'll have to read that when I have time to digest it.

 

[3KillerBs]

Thank you. I'll have to read that when I have time to digest it.

Alas, the $30 to read the article instead of just the abstract is beyond my budget at this time.

 

[nicalandia]

Alas, the $30 to read the article instead of just the abstract is beyond my budget at this time.

The abstract is all the info you need. Don't worry too much. There are other research done on this matter.

 

[3KillerBs]

My little, white-earlobed girl:

I suppose that from her size alone -- she's the size of the California White, not the Australorps -- I guess that she must be an Australorp x CW instead of an Australorp. I'd thought I'd accounted for all the chicks from the white eggs but I guess I got them mixed up.

 

[nicalandia]

Thos are pretty small white earlobe. She must be heterozygous for a few of those genes.

Talking about White Ear Lobes and White Face.

I believe one could make a Blue Face bird by combining the White Face from the Spanish breed and the Blue/Turquoise found on Silkies.

 

[3KillerBs]

Her egg today, pale tan.