Color genetics

[HuffleClaw]

Hello all,
I’m looking for someone to shed light onto the following:
The Ameraucanas; I have a white Ameraucana rooster and 1 splash Ameraucana hen and 1 blue Ameraucana hen. What colors would the offspring be?
Here is the rooster and hens below:
I also have another Ameraucana rooster whom is too old to do 'the deed' so he is being retired to my later flock soon.

@The Moonshiner @JedJackson @Sneebsey @nicalandia

 

[Cyprus]

Most offspring would not be white because white is recessive. 50% would be black and 50% would be blue most likely.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Most offspring would not be white because white is recessive. 50% would be black and 50% would be blue most likely.

Thank you Cyprus!

 

[Ridgerunner]

Do you know if that White Ameraucana rooster is white because of Recessive White genetics or Dominant White genetics? It makes a difference. Recessive White turns all feathers white when both genes at that gene pair are Recessive White. If only one is RW, it has no affect. That's why it is called Recessive. Dominant White modifies black feathers so they turn white. It does not have an effect on other than black feathers. So a solid white chicken that is white because of dominant white is genetically a black chicken underneath the white.

Both of your hens are basically black. There are different ways genetically to make black so there can be exceptions but in general you can assume they will pass black down to their offspring.

The Splash hen has two B/B/S genes at that gene pair that turns black feathers to splash. So she will pass down one B/B/S gene to all her offspring. The Blue hen has one B/B/S gene at that gene pair and one not-B/B/S so about half her offspring will get one B/B/S and half will get the not-B/B/S.

So if your rooster is white because of Dominant White, you are likely to get white offspring. The offspring should get black from him and the hens. Since it is a dominant gene just one Dominant White gene is all you need to turn a black chicken white. I don't think the B/B/S gene affects the shade of white. Of course this assumes he is pure for Dominant White, that is both genes at that gene pair are Dominant White. He should be pure but doesn't have to be.

If your rooster is white because of Recessive White, it gets a lot more complicated because you don't know what is hiding beneath that Recessive White. He could have the genetics for any color or pattern. The black from the hens is usually fairly dominant so it will override many of the possible colors and many patterns that can hide beneath Recessive White, but not necessarily so. I'd expect you to get blue offspring from the Splash hen and about half Blue and half Black from the Blue hen, but there is no guarantee of this. You could wind up with different patterns or colors.

 

[HuffleClaw]

Thank you @Ridgerunner! I have no idea if he’s dominant or recessive white. Very helpful post, thank you!

 

[Cyprus]

Most White Ameraucanas are recessive white. It is very rare, even among breeders, that white Ameraucana chickens are being produced with dominant white genetics.

 

[Amer]

If it is dominant white, all the chicks will be white. If recessive...
You do not know what you will get, because recessive white can hide anything. The only thing you know is some of the chicks will express blue, and probably not be white. (Unless it hides dominant white, which is kind of unlikely, and I doubt the hens carry recessive white.)
One crossing should show you whether he is recessive or dominant white.

 

[HuffleClaw]

If it is dominant white, all the chicks will be white. If recessive...
You do not know what you will get, because recessive white can hide anything. The only thing you know is some of the chicks will express blue, and probably not be white. (Unless it hides dominant white, which is kind of unlikely, and I doubt the hens carry recessive white.)
One crossing should show you whether he is recessive or dominant white.

Thank you Amer!

 

[Amer]

Most White Ameraucanas are recessive white. It is very rare, even among breeders, that white Ameraucana chickens are being produced with dominant white genetics.

True. Most are recessive. Have fun discovering what kind of genetics he has.

 

[Amer]

Thank you Amer!

Also, shame for not tagging me. You probably knew I'd show up though, didn't you?