Quote:
Grant starts off page 110 by saying..........."In my opinion, the Chocolate gene and what is currently known about it is fairly limited. While Dr. Carefoot discovered the gene, and that it operated as a Sex-Linked Recessive as far back as 1994, very little research has thus far been carried out..........". Which is why, most likely, you are having difficulty finding the information you seek.
What I've read agrees with everyone else...... the chocolate gene was a "spontaneous genetic mutation". It wasn't a color that was built using other available genes.
As far as the
ebay egg, if I was looking to work with chocolate I would definitely seek out a bird carrying the gene versus take a risk with one shipped egg. Far too much money and risk involved with 1 shipped chocolate egg.
Correct, you cannot "build" choc, nor can you CAUSE the mutation to occur. For that matter, you cannot build any variety without breeding in the gene or genes needed. For chocolate colourng, you can use choc or dun, but in either case you have to breed the gene (choc or I^d) in by finding a bird that has the gene and crossing it with your target breed.
Hoping for spontaneous mutation is like hoping to win the lottery--without ever purchasing a ticket.