Are these Erminettes?

[Jan Croot]

I have two white chickens that I was told were erminettes when I got them at 4 weeks old. Clearly they don’t have the erminette markings but I didn’t notice any of the other so called erminettes having the splash colouring either. Wondering if that’s really what they are or if they’re just plain leghorns or white rocks? Also if they are erminettes does anyone know around what age they start laying?

American Erminette are a genetically co-dominate. If you breed two spotted birds together, on average you get one white, one black, and two spotted. They all are Erminette breed.

If you want a maximum of spotted chicks, breed a white to a black; generally on average all four chicks will be spotted.

BBS Langshan follow this same genertic pattern. It is NOT a function of not breeding true, or recessive genes. This is how the genes work.

So yes, ,your white birds may well be erminette and are half the equation for breeding a LOT of spotted birds. See if you can find a black roo to borrow or own.

E = spangled Erminette
W = White Erminette
B = Black Erminette

E + E = W B E E
E + W = W W E E
E + B = B B E E
B +W = E E E E!!!!!

Outstanding information on https://theamericanerminette.weebly.com/. or in Curt Burroroughs book on Amazon.

We are trying another run at having the breed listed with the Livestock Conservancy.
W + W = W W W W
B + B = B B B B