Barring gene questions- HELP! (pics)

[Ridgerunner]

If the rooster has one copy of the barred gene then he will pass the gene at random to all his offspring. Technically it is 50-50 for male or female offspring, but you have to have enough numbers for those averages to mean anything. I've had individual hatches that were mostly male or female, but if I total all my hatches up, they are about 50-50. Same thing with the barring.

I hatched four last year from a rooster split from barring. All four were barred. Of his offspring this year, four are barred and ten are not. Close to 50-50 overall but not close in individual hatches.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
In actuality, the 50/50 is a 50% chance for EACH chick to inherit barring. What one chick inherits is not dependant on what previously hatched chicks inherited. If you hatch large numbers (100+), the overall percentages are likely to be near 50/50 of each gender; smaller numbers of chicks and the chances of having the overall percentages match is much less common.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
In actuality, the 50/50 is a 50% chance for EACH chick to inherit barring. What one chick inherits is not dependant on what previously hatched chicks inherited. If you hatch large numbers (100+), the overall percentages are likely to be near 50/50 of each gender; smaller numbers of chicks and the chances of having the overall percentages match is much less common.

I thought thatr was what I said.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Thanks so much Everybody! I am feeling much better about this now, despite my realization that several of my pullets must also be barred. That pic of the gold barred looks a LOT like several of my girls, and their wing feathers are a bit striped, though its kinda weird (though I consider most of the barred girls culls since their mottling is almost nonexistant) I expect lots of culls anyway in future generations, so removing the barring is just one more thing to keep in mind.

So this means I can keep my pretty boys... Now that I know they are not inelligible, I just have to pick the best. I am on to the next challenge! But I think I can manage the choices, since I get to pick 3, even if I am only keeping 2 myself.

And I must say, Juliette, that rooster is a beauty! Truly stunning. I can see whay you want to breed him.

 

[juliette2009]

Thank you Ridgerunner & Sonoran Silkies for that info...I guess I'll just have to keep on hatching here, waiting for that elusive barred girl to appear! At least I now know it's a possibility, and not a pipe-dream!

Thanks again!

Juliette

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

FINALLY got a good pic of my mottled/barred rooster feathers. Here's what was throwing me off:

Lovely feathers, though they seem to get more striped every day.

 

[RareBreedFancier]

Sorry juliette2009 I missed your question. My roo who was supposed to be pure Barred Plymouth Rock is stubbornly refusing to give me a daughter that looks like him. It's frustrating so I know how you feel but I'm sure we'll both get what we are hoping for eventually.

Tam'ra those roos are beautiful! Pitty you can't send me a few spares.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

I would if I could!
Personally, I love the way the barring looks with the mottling. Those boys are really pretty! And I have to pick just 3 out of the batch... and only keep 2 (one is for another guy working on the project) Decisions are so hard!

 

[onthespot]

I saw a barred feather sticking out of Aloha's tail. You should not use her with crossing the barred roos. If you can get a non-barred cockerel next generation, cross that on Aloha and you can select non-barred pullets to move forward with.

 

[Tam'ra of Rainbow Vortex]

Yes, thanks to this thread I have discovered that SEVERAL of my Aloha hens are actually barred. I can't cull them because they are the ones who have the size/body type we want.
They will be crossed with a speckled sussex roo, while the Aloha roos will cross with (non barred) Aloha hens, buff orps, and blue laced red wyandottes (an expiriment!)
The best of their offspring will be crossed, and I'll figure the rest out from there!
With luck I will end up with beautiful spotted chickens that get bigger than their Aloha grandparents. And lots of lovely stripey feathers from all the culled roosters!