Color Question

[pattyjean73]

I am not great with genetics and I'm not particularly inclined to study them in great detail. However, during my research and trying to decide with birds I'd like to get... I came across a question. I don't suppose the breed would make alot of difference... but I'll go ahead and add it to the example anyway.

I really like the Brahmas. The light and dark are my favorites but I also like the buffs. So... If I went with 3 dark and 3 light hens and then chose a buff cock; Am I correct in assuming that if and when they breed and eggs hatch I'd have a mix of buff and dark/light chicks (depending on which hen layed)?

Rocks.... 3 barred hens, 3 partridge hens, 1 buff cock? I assume I'd have a mix of buff and whichever hen layed?

Lets keep it simple and assume that each color is pure... barred hens came from barred parents and their parents were barred and grandparents were barred and vice versa with the buff cock.

LOL... remember I know nothing about genetics or how barred becomes barred etc. so take it easy on me.

 

[gritsar]

You are correct in your assumption about the brahmas. Another BYC member has some eggs from my light, dark and buff brahma hens mated to my dark brahma rooster in the bator right now. Hopefully in a couple more weeks we'll know exactly what chicks look like when you mix em all up.

 

[pattyjean73]

Great! Keep me posted will ya and send lots of pics.

 

[chickenwhisperer123]

Wont you get a mixed color if you breed them both together?
Maybe thats what you are saying, but I believe that is right..
Good Luck!!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
Correct, there may be some interesting color combinations. Of course the eggs from my dark hens will be dark brahmas all the way; since daddy is a dark.
You never know how beautiful or ugly a mixed color chick will be.

 

[Henk69]

When you cross 2 purebreed colors the outcome is mostly uniform.
Exception is blue which is never "purebreed" (homozygous), the purebreeds being splash.

Buff Brahma (= buff columbian) is dominant to dark (= pencilled partridge).
Buff is goldbased. Light brahma (=columbian) and dark are silverbased.
These are 2 variations of a sexlinked gene. A gold roo throws only gold pullets. His sons are het gold/silver which tends to look like a yellowish silver.

Barred is black based (extended black) with sexlinked barring.
Extended Black is dominant to columbian from the buff cock but another factor (Db) may be in there that is strong enough to make the cockerels a columbian type (with barring).
The females will be more black (no barring). If the factor Db is not present the males will be rusty black (with barring) and the females almost completely black (no barring).
The rust or groundcolor will be the color of yellowish silver again for the cockerels, gold for the pullets.

If you have the choice take a rooster in a recessive color (pencilled or partridge). Then the dominant traits in the hens will be projected in the offspring.
You won't get any pencilled/partridge offspring now.