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First, I'll assume that the birds are not split for any other colors. There are genes that take two copies to show in a bird -- these are called autosomal recessive. There are also genes that take two copies to show in a male, but only one in a female -- these are called sex-linked recessive, because while they are recessive, they are located on the sex-chromosomes. Males have sex chromosomes in a pair (two Z's), while females have one of one kind, and one of another (ZW). But...like I said...let's just assume (for now) that your birds are what you see, without being split to a different color/pattern.
"Blue" results from a Black bird having one copy of the Blue gene. This gene is called an Incomplete Dominant, because having one copy changes the appearance from the wild-type (the "dominant" part), and having two copies changes the appearance even more (the "incomplete" part). Ducks with two copies of the Blue gene are called Silver.
OK, so your Blue drake is basically Black with one copy of the Blue gene. This means that he can give either the chromosome WITH the Blue gene, or the chromosome WITHOUT the Blue gene, to his offspring. Your Black duck doesn't have the Blue gene, so this chromosome has the same gene (wild-type, or "Non-Blue") in both copies.
Blue Drake X Black Duck = 50% Blue, 50% Black offspring. There will be no statistical difference between males and females.
Sorry that's a long-winded answer to your question, but I'm also responding to your statement of being confused. I'm hoping I explained things better for you.
First, I'll assume that the birds are not split for any other colors. There are genes that take two copies to show in a bird -- these are called autosomal recessive. There are also genes that take two copies to show in a male, but only one in a female -- these are called sex-linked recessive, because while they are recessive, they are located on the sex-chromosomes. Males have sex chromosomes in a pair (two Z's), while females have one of one kind, and one of another (ZW). But...like I said...let's just assume (for now) that your birds are what you see, without being split to a different color/pattern.
"Blue" results from a Black bird having one copy of the Blue gene. This gene is called an Incomplete Dominant, because having one copy changes the appearance from the wild-type (the "dominant" part), and having two copies changes the appearance even more (the "incomplete" part). Ducks with two copies of the Blue gene are called Silver.
OK, so your Blue drake is basically Black with one copy of the Blue gene. This means that he can give either the chromosome WITH the Blue gene, or the chromosome WITHOUT the Blue gene, to his offspring. Your Black duck doesn't have the Blue gene, so this chromosome has the same gene (wild-type, or "Non-Blue") in both copies.
Blue Drake X Black Duck = 50% Blue, 50% Black offspring. There will be no statistical difference between males and females.
Sorry that's a long-winded answer to your question, but I'm also responding to your statement of being confused. I'm hoping I explained things better for you.
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