LittleDinosaur
Chirping
I bred my red EE cock to my black EE hen and successfully got 5 black chicks. They are now 4 months old and I've noticed that only one of them has not developed a beard nor muffs. She has a pea comb, but lacks a beard and muffs. Both her parents were hatchery stock EEs but both had full beards and muffs and all their other offspring are properly filled out. I thought beards and muffs were dominate traits, so is this a mutation or just a genetic possibility when working with the mutts that are EEs? I find this especially strange since I also bred a white EE cock (hatchery stock, again) to a RSL/non-muffed EE mixed hen (she has a large pea comb, tiny wattles, no bearding nor muffs, lays a green egg) and all 4 of their chicks are bearded and muffed. Though, their son (he's huge!) happened to develop some leg feathers which I also find odd since I know his lineage up to his grandparents and none of them had leg feathers.