A Cornish Cross (Breeding?) Journey

[Ridgerunner]

But it has a single comb rather than a pea comb like his older sisters… and I hear the pea comb is linked to the blue egg gene

The way the pea gene is linked to the blue eggshell gene is that they are pretty close together on the chromosome. A genetics guru on here years ago said that the two genes are carried together about 93% of the time. That means he has a 7% chance of having the blue eggshell gene. Not great odds but don't give up hope.

 

[Skyeknight]

The way the pea gene is linked to the blue eggshell gene is that they are pretty close together on the chromosome. A genetics guru on here years ago said that the two genes are carried together about 93% of the time. That means he has a 7% chance of having the blue eggshell gene. Not great odds but don't give up hope.

I had heard about pea comb and blue eggs being linked before, but not to that big a decree! Do you happen to have the source post? Quite interesting that there are lots of chicken breeds that do have pea combs but lack the blue egg gene, Brahma being an example (keeping it meat bird related ). So I assume if those were used it would be 50/50 if pea comb also means blue eggs, since the Brahma chromosome would lack the blue egg gene, right?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I think that was a private message several years back so no post to link.

I did not phrase my earlier reply well. The Blue Eggshell gene and the Pea Comb gene are two totally separate unrelate genes that happen to be close together on the chromosome. If both are present on that strand then there is a 93% change both will be passed down if one is. But there are several breeds where the chicken has a pea comb and does not lay blue based eggs, like the Brahma. There are breeds that lay blue based eggs but do not have the Pea Comb, like the Cream Legbar.

The Blue Eggshell gene does not mean the Pea Comb gene is present. The Pea Comb gene does not mean the Blue Eggshell gene is present. If they are both present on the same strand they will probably be passed on together but that is not guaranteed.

 

[TeaandGardenDiaries]

I'm super invested in Jr.'s growth!!

 

[DemeterAD9]

Jr and his bro are both doing well at 10 weeks old. Someday I will grab the two boys and weigh them. No crowing yet. I would say he is about the size of a 4 week old Cornish cross and while he isn’t growing nearly as fast as one, regardless of color, he does seem more built like a Cornish cross than a normal heritage breed. Shorter looking beak, round body, wide stance. He looks good and I’m already thinking of what hens to put with him come spring. Thinking of keeping the meat bird project Wyandotte based as I have 3 different colored hens (including his SLW grandma). The Wyandotte seems like a nice short and round dual purpose breed to work with, plus their short combs are good for winter. May include a couple white hens like my light brahma and bresse X blue copper maran girls just to see how it goes. Curious to see if he will produce mostly white young and even more curious to see if any who aren’t white will show barring.

 

[DemeterAD9]

11 weeks old today. Getting their big boy feathers now. I’m seeing a black feather on Junior’s neck and perhaps some off-white leakage on his back under his wings. Curious and docile but still keeping my hands off him for now.

Compared to my jake turkey and his hatch mate. Jr. is about as big as my smaller non-bantam girls.

And his skittish brother who I thought was MIA for a hot minute.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

11 weeks old today. Getting their big boy feathers now. I’m seeing a black feather on Junior’s neck and perhaps some off-white leakage on his back under his wings. Curious and docile but still keeping my hands off him for now.
View attachment 4246974View attachment 4246975View attachment 4246976View attachment 4246978

Compared to my jake turkey and his hatch mate. Jr. is about as big as my smaller non-bantam girls.
View attachment 4246977View attachment 4246973

And his skittish brother who I thought was MIA for a hot minute.
View attachment 4246989

Thanks for the history, I hope you continue to post as Jr. grows and matures.
BTW, can you post a pic of the father if you have one.
Thanks,
ABQ

 

[DemeterAD9]

Thanks for the history, I hope you continue to post as Jr. grows and matures.
BTW, can you post a pic of the father if you have one.
Thanks,
ABQ

Dad was a SLW X BJG, he was culled a while ago due to too many cockerels being around. Kinda wish I kept him as he wasn’t too bad and fairly meaty after processing. The other cockerel’s dad was a blue copper maran, who I still have but plan to replace next year.

 

[ABQ chicken keeper]

Dad was a SLW X BJG, he was culled a while ago due to too many cockerels being around. Kinda wish I kept him as he wasn’t too bad and fairly meaty after processing. The other cockerel’s dad was a blue copper maran, who I still have but plan to replace next year.
View attachment 4251856

He was beautiful roo. Interesting that Jr. did not show more color, I am behind on color genetics. So bare with me, what is SLWxBJG?

 

[Poultrybonkers]

He was beautiful roo. Interesting that Jr. did not show more color, I am behind on color genetics. So bear with me, what is SLWxBJG?

A silver laced Wyandotte over a black jersey giant.