Do I want to learn about genetics? Yes. Is it very intimidating and scary? Yes.

[ChickForLife]

Okay, there's some stuff posted recently that'll help you.

Ok, thanks!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ok. Is every gene like that, where there are different mutations, or are some always dominant and some always recessive?

There's different mutations of most of the genes I think. Mottling has like 4, or 5 different mutations.

 

[black_cat]

I breed to the SOP but before covid, I was showing my birds. This is what I use for the breeds recognized by the APA. There are several threads on BYC that have a lot of very good information. I have done experimental breeding's in the past but now I just work with my pure heritage breeds. Good luck and have fun...
https://poultry.extension.org/articles/poultry-anatomy/poultry-genetics-an-introduction/
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This is one of my female RIR's on champion row waiting to get her picture taken.
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Some of my males. The cockerel in the middle was also a champion.
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They are GORGEOUS!!!!!!!! I've never seen RIRs with that dark a coloring before. Could you describe the process of selecting birds for breeding? How many hens an how many roos do you keep? How much do you usually narrow down a hatch of chicks? (for example, if you hatch 10 chicks, how many do you usually keep for breeding?)

 

[ChickForLife]

@Mystery Where do I start?

 

[black_cat]

There's different mutations of most of the genes I think. Mottling has like 4, or 5 different mutations.

Oh god. I'm going to stay away from mottling for now. Seems scary. For genes other than colors- do they work separately/differently? Do they have the same little code things of letters/symbols also?

 

[MysteryChicken]

Oh god. I'm going to stay away from mottling for now. Seems scary. For genes other than colors- do they work separately/differently? Do they have the same little code things of letters/symbols also?

There's color splits, & there's genes that can't be combined.
They all have symbols.

 

[MysteryChicken]

@Mystery Where do I start?

Start your way from page 1.

 

[ChickForLife]

Start your way from page 1.

 

[black_cat]

There's color splits, & there's genes that can't be combined.
They all have symbols.

How do color splits work? I had been talking about genes for things like extra toes, feathered feet, crests, combs, etc.

 

[MysteryChicken]

How do color splits work? I had been talking about genes for things like extra toes, feathered feet, crests, combs, etc.

Here's Silver, Gold Split for example: S/s+. It only works for males, & creates a lemony yellow coloration.