Allie & Bino, the albino orpington chicks

[ctfd85157]

How are the others treating them? This is a story I would love to follow!!

 

[chippysmom327]

You can't keep a rooster?

I can. I already have one, but only have 4 hens. Now I'll have to build a separate coop for just them to live in, since I don't want 20 hens or to get rid of my other roo.

 

[paris_r]

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It'd be awesome if they were a pair, then I could breed them.

you wouldnt need a pair, you would need their siblings. i mentioned before it seems they are the result of genetics (since you have two) and not a spontaneous mutation. the probability depends on the breeding arrangement (roosters to hens ratio), but if they were from a small breeding group then their is a high probability that the siblings will be recessive for that trait, so breeding them back to their siblings (if they have the recessive gene) will give you a 50% chance of also being albino. breeding them to each other would result in a near 100% result, but dont forget the siblings, they would help you maintain genetic 'diversity'...did you tell the breeder yet??? when are you going to tell us who supplied you the eggs???

 

[ameliadanielle]

I can't wait to see how they look when they're grown. I wonder though how their eye sight will hold up outside. We had two albino horses when I was little, they both had poor eye sight from the sun. It made them a little more jumpy.

 

[chippysmom327]

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It'd be awesome if they were a pair, then I could breed them.

you wouldnt need a pair, you would need their siblings. i mentioned before it seems they are the result of genetics (since you have two) and not a spontaneous mutation. the probability depends on the breeding arrangement (roosters to hens ratio), but if they were from a small breeding group then their is a high probability that the siblings will be recessive for that trait, so breeding them back to their siblings (if they have the recessive gene) will give you a 50% chance of also being albino. breeding them to each other would result in a near 100% result, but dont forget the siblings, they would help you maintain genetic 'diversity'...did you tell the breeder yet??? when are you going to tell us who supplied you the eggs???

I'm pretty sure it was a spontaneous thing. The person I got them from said they've never had anything like that before, and they've been hatching large batches for a while.

I can't wait to see how they look when they're grown. I wonder though how their eye sight will hold up outside. We had two albino horses when I was little, they both had poor eye sight from the sun. It made them a little more jumpy.

Me too. That's another reason why I'm putting them in their own separate coop. My other birds free range, but I just couldn't let the albinos. They're wayyy more susceptible to predation because of their color and eyesight. I'll probably build them a tractor.

 

[paris_r]

I'm pretty sure it was a spontaneous thing.

spontaneous X 2? one yeah, but 2....keep the siblings marked to try breeding back to them, the least you will get is offspring split for albinism.

They're wayyy more susceptible to predation because of their color and eyesight. I'll probably build them a tractor.

make sure the tractor has lots of shade, cancer and any UV damage (like cataracts) also are risks. look up what human albinos have to deal with and apply it to them. there is a loft of info out there on the Tanzanian albinos challenges.

 

[thechxwhisperer]

This is amazing! Love the photos!

 

[chiques chicks]

Chippy, take good care of those chicks!

Even if I hatch some, I know you'll do a far better job of caring for them than I ever could! I feed, I water, I gather eggs.

You show your chickens love! I don't want to hijack this thread, I just wanted to throw the genetics out there for everyone. It appears the chicks are coming from a pen of mostly sibling or closely related birds.

 

[chiques chicks]

Has your chick with possibly pink eyes hatched yet?

Yes, still in hatcher until it dries. I won't remove it for a day or two. It is standing. There is still one egg to hatch. When hatch is complete, I'll try to post a pic for comparison.

 

[Pyxis]

I've been following along in here and just wanted to post; I am loving these two. I have never seen an albino chicken before.