Colors and Patterns - Vocabulary and photo examples.

[Gifa]

So, I am a first time chicken owner, and am really enjoying watching my little ones grow up. But I am having a really hard time learning how to describe them using the correct terminology. I have looked and looked to see if I can find a page or a thread or another website that can illustrate, identify and provide easy to absorb explanations, photos of actual chickens and vocabulary for the various colors and patterns on chicken feathers (ex. Partridge, Wheaten, Splash, Laced, Barred, Black, Blue, Silver, Dunn, Red, etc). Perhaps I have not been using the correct keywords to help myself find what I am looking for. If that is the case, I will gladly and appreciatively accept redirection.

I've been here: http://kippenjungle.nl/basisEN.htm , and it seems like a lot of good information... but forgive me for saying, it is formatted horribly, and the illustrations are a bit small and abstract. So, even after reading it... I don't feel like I really have a better grasp on it than I did before. A lot of it is that the illustrations are not labeled, so I am not able to readily connect the terms with the images in order to create a solid understanding of the content. And I do. I want to learn.

I am half tempted to create a better, easier to read document that simply lays out the colors and patterns with their proper names in an organized way just so I can bridge the learning gap between knowing nothing, and being able to read and understand the genetics involved. I am an artist, so sometimes I just need something visual, and when there isn't anything like that, I create it. With your help, I will make this available to this community so that others may find an easier entry point into the genetics discussions, or just know how to more accurately describe their chickens. Does that make sense?


So... here's what started me down this path. I have this easter egger... and we all know that easter eggers come in every color and pattern there is... She is 4 weeks old now... and I have no idea how to describe her colors and patterns.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Try looking through http://chickengenetics.edelras.nl/

 

[Henk69]

Would you be interested in making new pictures for the new version of the chickencalculator?
Must warn you, the current version without layering has 800+ pictures.

 

[Gifa]

Yes, I would be interested. I spent years as a Production Artist, so it would not be completely offensive work for me (I actually enjoy production work every now and again as a break from the creative stuff, sick, I know

), but most importantly, I would learn a lot from the experience.

 

[Henk69]

send you a pm...

 

[Pele]

I am an artist as well, and would be interested in assisting with the chicken calculator.

 

[Arielle]

Yes, I would be interested. I spent years as a Production Artist, so it would not be completely offensive work for me (I actually enjoy production work every now and again as a break from the creative stuff, sick, I know

), but most importantly, I would learn a lot from the experience.

Go for it !! We each have our own unique gifts!! At one time I could spend hours looking over spread sheets. Sick, I know!

I'm a newbie and get stuck just as you do. HOpe you can pull this off!

 

[tadkerson]

Buy a copy of the APA Standard of Perfection and buy a copy of a book that has pictures of the breeds and varieties of chickens. That should keep you busy and very informed.

Birds that are of mixed genetics do not have a standard. Hybrids do not normally have a variety because they may look like two or three variates mixed together.

The pullet you have in the picture appears to be a dark brown variety. The autosomal barring on the back is characteristic of young pullets- as the bird gets older the autosomal barring will usually disappear but it may not. The genetics of the bird are unknown so a person can only guess.

If a bird is hybridized, I just call them a Heinz 57 or barn yard variety.

Secondly.

I do not think individuals can appreciate the complexity that was involved in making the Chicken Calculator. Henk has done a great job with a very complex subject. Novice chicken fanciers want to make chicken genetics and the expression of chicken genes simple. It can not be done. I suggest learning a little at a time.
When you read the information, you have to read it deliberately and slowly. Every little thing about chickens is important. The difference between two breeds can be skin color and body type or maybe just a different kind of comb.


Tim

 

[Arielle]

Tim do you have a particular book in mind?

 

[Gifa]

I think that's the confusion... I would love to learn about the genetics, it is a fascinating topic to me... however, at first, since I am not running a breeding operation, and I think this is true for a lot of folks... I'd simply like to be able to describe the colors and patterns on the feathers using the correct vocabulary. Such as:

"This one is dark brown with some autosomal barring on the back right now, I can't wait to see how she'll turn out." (thank you, Tim, btw

) and actually know what in the heck I am talking about. So, I guess I was actually asking for a vocabulary list (with photo examples) in order to begin my genetics lesson.

Like I said, the there was a lot of good information there on the chicken calculator, with lots of illustrated examples... but I was unable to connect all of those examples to the information because of the lack of formatting, leading to gaps in my understanding. It was a constructive critique and I am willing to help any way I can to clarify that information. Fortunately I have the opportunity to do so.

Whether the bird comes from this breed or that breed... or conforms to this standard of perfection or that... it's just not my original focus. My EE girl is a mixed breed, I was fine with that before I got her, I'm fine with that now, and she's fine just the way she is. Carrying on about a mixed breed's genetics seems to me to be a lot like a lower/middle class person scouring over their peasant family tree in search of some royalty in order to one up their fellow peasant neighbors at the next neighborhood barbecue in the event someone pays a compliment on the color of their hair or eyes...