Booted bantam or something else?

[CraziChknLady]

People made up standards for what is or isn't desirable in a breed. In reality, any "breed" can be bred to be any pattern. A breed is more of silhouette/shape that produces a consistent size/shape/color of offspring which is done through a form of inbreeding called line breeding. Line breeding produces genetically similar offspring over time that look uniform and have similar disease resistance and susceptibility. The longer a rooster is used to breed his line/daughters or sons to their mothers, the weaker the (blood)line becomes. Typically it is a max of 7 generations before new blood is needed.

Overall, yes, a non-bearded Mille Fleur d'Uccle is against the American SOP (American Bantam Association), and these birds won't place or earn trophies. A more common example you'll see on this forum is how American Silkies are super plush versus the standard held by most of the world which calls for our "pet quality" silkies.

In my opinion, bird SOPs are a silly concept, but are indeed a goal that some people work toward. I don't agree with the intentional culling of birds who don't fit imaginary guidelines we created as I feel even a chicken with a "squirrel tail" deserves automatic death/"culling" due to someone's interpretation of being undesirable--but this is a common practice in breeding to a Standard of Perfection (SOP). Some breeders do rehome, but others don't to "protect" their genetic stock. Ethics vary widely when it comes to livestock.

Appreciate the information! Thanks so much!

 

[NatJ]

From my research, many hatcheries have D'Uccles, but some chicks in a batch that have no beards or muffs are just the booted bantams. I'm not sure if this is some sort of recessive gene or what. Or if there's some 50/20 split on them having the beards and muffs vs none at all.

Muff/beard requires a dominant gene.
The gene for no muff/beard is recessive.

So yes, it is quite possible for parents with muffs & beards to produce some clean-faced chicks, if those parents are carrying the recessive gene for no muffs & beard.

On the other hand, it is also possible to have a flock that breeds true for the muff/beard gene, and never produces any clean-faced chicks.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Muff/beard requires a dominant gene.
The gene for no muff/beard is recessive.

So yes, it is quite possible for parents with muffs & beards to produce some clean-faced chicks, if those parents are carrying the recessive gene for no muffs & beard.

On the other hand, it is also possible to have a flock that breeds true for the muff/beard gene, and never produces any clean-faced chicks.

Thank you for sharing this. Great information!

 

[CraziChknLady]

Thank you for sharing this. Great information!

I figured it was something with the genes, but wasn't sure. Appreciate the clarification! This explains why some hatchery stock, and especially on their photos, show some clean faces and others not. Explains A LOT! For a moment I was almost thinking the booted bantams might be a separate breed. Glad to officially know what I've got. And later down the road if I get some hatchery stock and breed with mine to expect some may be clean faced and others full beards/ muffs.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I figured it was something with the genes, but wasn't sure. Appreciate the clarification! This explains why some hatchery stock, and especially on their photos, show some clean faces and others not. Explains A LOT! For a moment I was almost thinking the booted bantams might be a separate breed. Glad to officially know what I've got. And later down the road if I get some hatchery stock and breed with mine to expect some may be clean faced and others full beards/ muffs.

Chicken genetics is not even close to easy, at least for me. I scour posts here, and I still only have a minimal understanding of it all.