bantam vs large breed

[SusanJoM]

Is bantam vs large breed a gene thing?

What differences would/might there be between the bantam and the large breed versions of the same variety and breed.

For example, if you had a Bantam Black Ameraucana and a Black Ameraucana, would the only difference in their offspring be in the size genes?

Or is size not a gene but something else?

As you can see, I do not even know enough about this to ask the question correctly, but maybe some answers to what you think I might be asking will help me in the direction I'm trying to go????

Susan

 

[herechickchick]

Ok I am by no means an expert on this but as I understand it there are Bantam versions of large breed chickens (like the Ameraucanas). I believe that they were breed selectively to the smaller size (taking the smallest off spring and breeding them and then taking the smallest of the smaller parents ect..) to create the bantam version. I do not think they are genetically different just thier size and the size of thier egg. Now there are true bantams such as the Japaneses Bantam, Silkie Bantam, d'Uccle Bantams among others. These bantams have on larger counterpart so they are considered true bantams. I hope this helps.

 

[seriousbill]

Quote:
Hi. I also am no expert, but my understanding is that there are a couple of genes that produce bantam birds, one that is a gene for dwarfism and one that just reduces the size somewhat. This works via a "dose effect" -- as in there's a difference in size depending on whether they get it from both parents or only one. The gene is usually designated dwB, I believe.

 

[seedcorn]

If it's a production bird, do not expect the same laying ability out of a bantam that the standards would do.

If you want pets, few eggs, etc......go w/bantams.

Want lot of eggs, go w/production birds. Want meat birds, for best conversion/fastest gain, go w/chicks bred for that.

Decide what you want and go for it...

 

[SusanJoM]

Quote:
I appreciate that information, but my issue isn't about choosing breeds. I already have some bantams (sebrights, silkies, salmon favorelles) and some large (EEs, black austrolorpes, light brahmas). I'm just sort of interested in just what the bantams are in relation to the larger breeds....what the genetic differences are, how the bantam versions of the breed were developed, etc....

Susan