lighter/darker chicks a sex link?

[mollybuck]

Hello guys! My broody silkie hatched a couple of chicks this weekend. they are black astralorp/blrw mix. We hatched one in may of the same mix and it was a black chick with white tips on its wings and it is definatly a pullet.

The two (3.. one didnt make it ...) that she has now, one is black with the white tips and one is grey with the white tips. I have about this much............ knowledge on genetics, and and curious if the grey one may be a boy? would such a cross create a sex link? thanks!

 

[Michael OShay]

Hello guys! My broody silkie hatched a couple of chicks this weekend. they are black astralorp/blrw mix. We hatched one in may of the same mix and it was a black chick with white tips on its wings and it is definatly a pullet.

The two (3.. one didnt make it ...) that she has now, one is black with the white tips and one is grey with the white tips. I have about this much............ knowledge on genetics, and and curious if the grey one may be a boy? would such a cross create a sex link? thanks!

Sorry, but your chicks are not sex linked. Producing sex links requires a hen with a silver gene.

 

[Michael OShay]

Sorry, but your chicks are not sex linked. Producing sex links requires a hen with a silver gene.

I forgot to add "or a hen with a barred gene."

 

[mollybuck]

Hmm.. would a cuckoo Maran? I was just surprised to see the Grey one. I wasn't trying for it. Thanks!

 

[Michael OShay]

Hmm.. would a cuckoo Maran? I was just surprised to see the Grey one. I wasn't trying for it. Thanks!

Yes, a Cuckoo Maran hen will work for sex link chicks as cuckoo is produced by the barred gene. From hatching, the male chicks will have a white spot on their heads and will be barred as adults. Females will lack the white spot as chicks and the barring as adults.

 

[donrae]

You're not sex linked with that cross, but the lighter bird is likley showing the blue dilution of black, while the darker bird will be black.