Comb question

[adcgroup]

I started a thread in "What Breed or Gender is this?" because I wasn't sure where best to put it. Rather than duplicate the thread, I'll just link it here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/695735/rose-comb

I have a chick that has turned out with some type of comb reminiscent of a Strawberry or Rose comb. His father has a Walnut Comb (my Avatar), and his mother a single comb (She's a Welsummer). I'm looking for some explanation as to how his comb came to be...

Thanks!

 

[J-Sanders]

Not a professional chicken geneticist, but I do play one on the internet. So with that disclaimer I would propose that your chick has a Rose comb developing and still immature. Or if it stays that way through adulthood then it is most likely caused by a chromosomal issue from early development in the egg and one or more of the alleles did not connect properly and some instructions were lost. Usually this results in the death of the embryo so you may have a very lucky chick. I don't think the comb will breed true though.

The mother is most likely a (rrpp) comb gene hen and the father is one of these, (RrPp, RRPp, RrPP, RRPP). To get a Walnut comb at least one of each pair has to have the dominant gene R and P.

I still have a lot of self education to do on genetic crossing and as such I will defer to anyone who has a better explanation.

Jim

 

[adcgroup]

Thanks for the info! I know that I'm creating a bit of a mutt mix, but I'm interested if the traits are reproducible. My more common and practical mix is a Barred Rock rooster with White Leghorn hens. I've just got the first ones at about 6 weeks now. The idea is to keep the excellent egg laying, but put a little more meat on the bones to end up with a little more dual purpose bird. I haven't been able to find out what color egg they might lay. I don't know if genetically it mixes to produce an off-white egg, or if some may lay a white and others lay a light brown. I'll see in about 14 more weeks!

 

[J-Sanders]

The general rule of thumb is: white ears, white eggs. red ears, brown eggs. BUT, the best indicator is the hen that laid them as she will pass on the egg color gene and so she should determine what color eggs you will get. Recessive genes muck it up a bit so you could theoretically get a white egg layer from a red eared brown egg mama hen.

Jim

 

[adcgroup]

Thanks! I'm a "rule of thumb" kinda guy.