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

[HeatherKellyB]

The only Buff Black crosses of the first generation of my Wheaten Crele Orpingtons are Buff Orpington/Barred Rock, & Buff Orpington/Australorp.
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The contrasting colors are so pretty!
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures

 

[MysteryChicken]

The contrasting colors are so pretty!
Thank you so much for sharing your pictures

Thanks, & you're welcome. I have pictures of my F1s, & F2 crosses too if you want to see them.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

So barring shows up in only male chicks when? I may have this all wrong, so please correct me, in BR's, the males get 2 copies of the barring gene which results in wider bars and the females only get 1 copy which shows more narrow bars and the black is more apparent. Is this across all breeds and crosses or is there ever a time where a female will get two copies of barring?

Edited to add - I mention the BR's because of what I think is females only receiving one copy of barring gene. So if males were the only barred birds, that means the females receive one barring gene and another gene thats dominant?

 

[MysteryChicken]

So barring shows up in only male chicks when? I may have this all wrong, so please correct me, in BR's, the males get 2 copies of the barring gene which results in wider bars and the females only get 1 copy which shows more narrow bars and the black is more apparent. Is this across all breeds and crosses or is there ever a time where a female will get two copies of barring?

Females will never have a second copy of the barring gene. Light barred females are a result of Sex linked Dilution.
Males with sex linked dilution will be completely white. Breeding of Males, & females of that type will result in solid white offspring.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

Females will never have a second copy of the barring gene. Light barred females are a result of Sex linked Dilution.
Males with sex linked dilution will be completely white. Breeding of Males, & females of that type will result in solid white offspring.

That was exactly what I was wondering! Now, a sex linked dilution is what? Is the barring gene a dominant gene?

 

[MysteryChicken]

That was exactly what I was wondering! Now, a sex linked dilution is what? Is the barring gene a dominant gene?

I haven't really played around with this gene, but I think it maybe dominant.

I use the regular Barring gene, non of the other mutations.


Males of Barred Rocks have two copies. A Single Barred male is most like a mix.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

So barring shows up in only male chicks when? I may have this all wrong, so please correct me, in BR's, the males get 2 copies of the barring gene which results in wider bars and the females only get 1 copy which shows more narrow bars and the black is more apparent. Is this across all breeds and crosses or is there ever a time where a female will get two copies of barring?

Edited to add - I mention the BR's because of what I think is females only receiving one copy of barring gene. So if males were the only barred birds, that means the females receive one barring gene and another gene thats dominant?

Barring is a sex-linked dominant gene.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

I was wondering about the crested gene because of this guy. He has a blue silkie father and a midnight majesty marans mother (MMM is a cross of Marans - my bird has clean legs and feet that are slate in color, she's solid black, and has a floppy straight comb). Is he an example of recessive genes (I was thinking BCM) or male specific genes (thinking BCM again) or he is what he is? I wasn't expecting him to have a crest, but I love crested birds. One last question and then I promise I'll stop. Is the floppy comb a gene or just something that happens with the larger combs?

Thanks again! I've been wondering these questions for so long

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

Wow! I am speechless. I don't know why I haven't noticed that coloring before but it's so incredibly beautiful and I didn't need anymore chickens but now I do.

What about crested birds? Is that gene dominant? I'm thinking about Pyncheon crosses again and I have 2 CCL's that I'm wondering about crossing.

Knowing and understanding genetics is so helpful. I am anxious to learn about this. Chickens are awesome, really. So much to learn about with them

It depends on the size of the crest. With a smaller crest, I’d think that most of the offspring would have crests, but some wouldn’t. I don’t fully understand crest genetics.

 

[MysteryChicken]

I was wondering about the crested gene because of this guy. He has a blue silkie father and a midnight majesty marans mother (MMM is a cross of Marans - my bird has clean legs and feet that are slate in color, she's solid black, and has a floppy straight comb). Is he an example of recessive genes (I was thinking BCM) or male specific genes (thinking BCM again) or he is what he is? I wasn't expecting him to have a crest, but I love crested birds. One last question and then I promise I'll stop. Is the floppy comb a gene or just something that happens with the larger combs?

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Thanks again! I've been wondering these questions for so long

I find the Crest gene is Semi Dominant. I have a silkie cross who has no crest at all.