Blue zombie… oh my!

[Backyardexplorer]

Hi all,

Today I purchased two zombie chicks locally, both from a ayam cemani roo and a leghorn hen. (What I was told at least)

Chick #1 is around 6 weeks old. White in color with black skin and comb. Typical zombie chick based on the photos I’ve seen online.

As I was speaking with the owner she mentioned they had just hatched an F3 zombie chick that was blueish in color. The chick looked different from all the rest they had hatched which meant the white leghorn traits were being bred out? She was unsure if they would sell this chick or not.

I was intrigued, knowing zero about genetics or zombie chicks I asked to see chick #2 and I ended up leaving with this chick as well. I mean, why not?

My question is, could someone explain to me a little more in depth why this chick was blueish in color and not white? I’m genuinely just wanting to understand the breeding genetics a little better. I purchased the chick for no other reason than I thought it was adorable.

Any insight is appreciated!

Side note: these chicks were inexpensive and purchased as straight run. It will not hurt my feelings if the breeding is not 100% up to par. Just looking to learn!

Also curious, do you think I purchased hens?

What does F3 mean?

Signed,
A curious chicken mama

 

[NatJ]

two zombie chicks locally, both from a ayam cemani roo and a leghorn hen.

F3 zombie chick that was blueish in color. The chick looked different from all the rest they had hatched which meant the white leghorn traits were being bred out?

My question is, could someone explain to me a little more in depth why this chick was blueish in color and not white? I’m genuinely just wanting to understand the breeding genetics a little better.

Regarding the feather colors, while ignoring all the other traits:

Ayam Cemani have a gene that makes the chicken have black feathers all over.

White Leghorns generally have that same gene to make the chicken have black feathers all over.

White Leghorns also have a gene called Dominant White that turns any black in the feathers to white. That is what causes the first chick to have white feathers (with a few dark bits, because some genes miss a bit here and there.)

It is common for White Leghorns to also have the blue gene (turns black into blue) but they still look white because of the Dominant White gene. No matter what other genes are trying to turn black into another color, Dominant White still makes it all white.

The blueish chick is not white, because it does not have the Dominant White gene. But it does happen to have the blue gene, which is why it looks blue.

If the breeder continues to produce F3 zombies like this, they will probably get lots of white chicks, some more blue chicks, and some black chicks as well (no Dominant White, but no blue either.)