Blue Egg Layers from University of Arkansas

[Bentley]

Here are some facts.

White skin, (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w) in all cases (Genetics of the Fowl, pg 151, Hutt, 1949).
Shades of color in the shanks are due to a combination of the melanin in the varying dermal layers of the skin.

1) White shanks= white skin (W) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
2) Yellow shanks= yellow skin (w) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
3) Bluish= White skinned bird (W) not obscured by melanin in the epidermis but influenced by its presence.
4) Slate or Black= in white skinned (W) birds, when partially or wholly obscured by the epidermal melanin.
5) Willow, or Green= in yellow skinned (w) birds, from the mixture of dermal melanin and epidermal xanthophyl.

The various shading and degree of shading of the slate or willow color will depend upon the level of melanin in one or all of the three dermal layers of the skin. But the facts are , the basil white skin (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w).

References:
Genetics of the Fowl, E. B. Hutt, Chapter 6, Variations in the Color of the Skin, pg 149-161, 1949

 

[OSUman]

Here are some facts.

White skin, (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w) in all cases (Genetics of the Fowl, pg 151, Hutt, 1949).
Shades of color in the shanks are due to a combination of the melanin in the varying dermal layers of the skin.

1) White shanks= white skin (W) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
2) Yellow shanks= yellow skin (w) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
3) Bluish= White skinned bird (W) not obscured by melanin in the epidermis but influenced by its presence.
4) Slate or Black= in white skinned (W) birds, when partially or wholly obscured by the epidermal melanin.
5) Willow, or Green= in yellow skinned (w) birds, from the mixture of dermal melanin and epidermal xanthophyl.

The various shading and degree of shading of the slate or willow color will depend upon the level of melanin in one or all of the three dermal layers of the skin. But the facts are , the basil white skin (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w).

References:
Genetics of the Fowl, E. B. Hutt, Chapter 6, Variations in the Color of the Skin, pg 149-161, 1949

I didnt know there was varying amounts of melanin in birds, but that explains alot.

 

[caj1985]

Meanwhile, we are getting an egg a day from the Black pullet. Not sure of the ages of the others, or how they were raised. Not a bad thing, just different.

Jim,
The two pullets you got from me hatched 5/5 which makes them just over 16 weeks. If they stay in line with yours we have about 6 weeks or so before they start laying. MY question is this bearing in mind I know nothing about chicken genetics, my splash is the only bird that I have with yellow. Does the yellow somehow tie in with the lighter color or is it totally independent?

 

[nicalandia]

References:
Genetics of the Fowl, E. B. Hutt, Chapter 6, Variations in the Color of the Skin, pg 149-161, 1949

beautiful

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

I think the leg color doesnt matter, these are bred for the production of a lot of eggs. As I only have one pullet I am going to try and keep a record of how many eggs she lays. Then see what I can get from her offspring. I also have an idea for a separate project with the BBR ones, if they still have them, but that will stay with me for now.

When we hatch an extra cockerel, if you will send a box and pay shipping, would be happy to swap you one for Orp bantam eggs. These cockerels combs redden early. Could easily ship a 4 or 6 week old in a 25 count chick box.

 

[HallFamilyFarm]

Here are some facts.

White skin, (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w) in all cases (Genetics of the Fowl, pg 151, Hutt, 1949).
Shades of color in the shanks are due to a combination of the melanin in the varying dermal layers of the skin.

1) White shanks= white skin (W) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
2) Yellow shanks= yellow skin (w) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
3) Bluish= White skinned bird (W) not obscured by melanin in the epidermis but influenced by its presence.
4) Slate or Black= in white skinned (W) birds, when partially or wholly obscured by the epidermal melanin.
5) Willow, or Green= in yellow skinned (w) birds, from the mixture of dermal melanin and epidermal xanthophyl.

The various shading and degree of shading of the slate or willow color will depend upon the level of melanin in one or all of the three dermal layers of the skin. But the facts are , the basil white skin (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w).

References:
Genetics of the Fowl, E. B. Hutt, Chapter 6, Variations in the Color of the Skin, pg 149-161, 1949

THANKS!

Quote:
Thanks for the date. I still checked for eggs today and will continue to. When breeding Blue you get Black, Blue and splash. There are several BYC threads on breeding Blue birds. The yellow shanks have no connection with feather color. Check out https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/305455/how-to-breed-the-blues

 

[nicalandia]

Does the yellow somehow tie in with the lighter color or is it totally independent?

while it may actually lighten them up a bit(shanks) they are still going to be at least willow and no there is nothing linking dermal inhibitor(Id) and splash(Bl/Bl) if you cross this hen with a black or blue rooster with dark shanks all of your hens from that cross will yield dark shanks, but the boys will have only 50% chance of obtaining dark shanks

 

[OSUman]

I have a pair I just meant only one female so when penned together it will be easy to track the offspring. Thanks for the offer though.

When we hatch an extra cockerel, if you will send a box and pay shipping, would be happy to swap you one for Orp bantam eggs. These cockerels combs redden early. Could easily ship a 4 or 6 week old in a 25 count chick box.

 

[banjoejoe4783]

Here are some facts.

White skin, (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w) in all cases (Genetics of the Fowl, pg 151, Hutt, 1949).
Shades of color in the shanks are due to a combination of the melanin in the varying dermal layers of the skin.

1) White shanks= white skin (W) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
2) Yellow shanks= yellow skin (w) with no melanin in the epidermal layer of the shanks.
3) Bluish= White skinned bird (W) not obscured by melanin in the epidermis but influenced by its presence.
4) Slate or Black= in white skinned (W) birds, when partially or wholly obscured by the epidermal melanin.
5) Willow, or Green= in yellow skinned (w) birds, from the mixture of dermal melanin and epidermal xanthophyl.

The various shading and degree of shading of the slate or willow color will depend upon the level of melanin in one or all of the three dermal layers of the skin. But the facts are , the basil white skin (W) is dominant to yellow skin (w).

References:
Genetics of the Fowl, E. B. Hutt, Chapter 6, Variations in the Color of the Skin, pg 149-161, 1949

thank you for the detailed facts

 

[caj1985]

while it may actually lighten them up a bit(shanks) they are still going to be at least willow and no there is nothing linking dermal inhibitor(Id) and splash(Bl/Bl) if you cross this hen with a black or blue rooster with dark shanks all of your hens from that cross will yield dark shanks, but the boys will have only 50% chance of obtaining dark shanks

So it is sex linked?