EE Feather pattern and egg color genetics...(hope this is in the right place)

[chickenreferee]

I apologize in advance if I'm not posting this in the correct area. I have several questions regarding one of my birds and was hoping maybe someone could help or point me in the right direction since I'm totally new to this genetics thing.

This is Ida, my EE hen who is currently sitting on a clutch of eggs to hatch any day now. (she has an apron on in these pics, can't really see the feathers on her back)


To me anyway she has an unusual feather pattern- I've not seen it in any of my other EEs. It's almost red with steele grey or 'blue'...anyways. Didn't know if there was a correct term for her color. Her sister was solid white and her other sister was buff. Her sisters both laid green eggs but Ida lays a green egg one day and a blue tinted the next. Is this odd? Does she have the blue egg gene?

She is sitting on 11 eggs, exposed to a black cochin roo. Since she has a bit of blue in her feather pattern, could we end up with other chicks like her or even a blue or splash chick? Will her pea comb and his feather feet be passed on to all the chicks?

I have read about dominant and recessive traits but I'm still not sure I totally get it. I appreciate ya'll humoring a silly girl waiting for her mutt chicks to hatch.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

I know a bit about genetics in general, but not so much about chicken genetics. The idea is that genes come in pairs, so for every trait, such as comb type, Ida has one gene from her mom and one from dad. I think pea combs are dominant, which means Ida only has to have one gene for that trait to have a pea comb. It doesn't matter what the second gene is, might be dominant pea (giving her two of same gene) or might be a recessive gene for single comb (here's where my knowledge lacks -don't know for sure if single combs are recessive), but if she has the recessive gene, it will not be expressed (meaning you can't tell that she has it) but she can pass it on to her offspring.

Using shorthand helps: P=dominant pea comb gene p=recessive single comb gene (we'll just pretend this is true)

If Ida has PP and your roo has pp, then the only combination the chicks can get is Pp, (one gene from each parent) resulting in pea combs. It can be written like this: PP x pp = Pp (100 percent) all chicks have pea combs.

If, however, Ida has Pp, then your cross is Pp x pp = Pp (50 percent) and pp (50 percent) about half pea and half single comb chicks.

So you can tell what kind of genes Ida has from the chicks, but it's hard to predict without knowing. You can only know what genes an individual has if they have a recessive trait because they have to have both genes recessive for that trait to be expressed physically. And you have to know how the interacting genes express themselves. Does black and blue result in blue or black? What combination makes splash? Then, to further complicate things, not all genes are purely dominant and recessive. Some are blended, which makes something different than either gene (think hazel eyes in people or olive eggers in chickens). We won't even talk about mutations!

The good news is there are probably many folks on this site who can help you. Try the very long "EE Braggers" thread. If I remember correctly, someone named "gene goddess" started it, so you could ask her via personal message or find someone there who could connect you with a knowledgeable chickenologist

. "illia" might be a good person to ask.(hope it's spelled right!)

I think one of the best thing about EEs are the surprises! They're like a box of chocolates..... Ida has one of my favorite color combos, golden brown with blue. She may also be a very special girl since her egg color varies. Never heard of that!

Hope this was of some help. This aspect of chickens is new to me, so I'm really curious to see what the experts say. I'd love it if you could let me know where you find your answer if it's different than this thread. And I'd really love to see baby pics!

Good luck, Lynda

 

[ChicKat]

Hi chickenreferee==

Pretty amazing hen. I want one. ;O) Be sure to post the pictures and keep us updated on how the chicks will develop. I'm subscribing.

Hi Lynda,

Thanks for taking the time to post the genetics explanation!!

 

[chickenreferee]

I know a bit about genetics in general, but not so much about chicken genetics. The idea is that genes come in pairs, so for every trait, such as comb type, Ida has one gene from her mom and one from dad. I think pea combs are dominant, which means Ida only has to have one gene for that trait to have a pea comb. It doesn't matter what the second gene is, might be dominant pea (giving her two of same gene) or might be a recessive gene for single comb (here's where my knowledge lacks -don't know for sure if single combs are recessive), but if she has the recessive gene, it will not be expressed (meaning you can't tell that she has it) but she can pass it on to her offspring.

Using shorthand helps: P=dominant pea comb gene p=recessive single comb gene (we'll just pretend this is true)

If Ida has PP and your roo has pp, then the only combination the chicks can get is Pp, (one gene from each parent) resulting in pea combs. It can be written like this: PP x pp = Pp (100 percent) all chicks have pea combs.

If, however, Ida has Pp, then your cross is Pp x pp = Pp (50 percent) and pp (50 percent) about half pea and half single comb chicks.

So you can tell what kind of genes Ida has from the chicks, but it's hard to predict without knowing. You can only know what genes an individual has if they have a recessive trait because they have to have both genes recessive for that trait to be expressed physically. And you have to know how the interacting genes express themselves. Does black and blue result in blue or black? What combination makes splash? Then, to further complicate things, not all genes are purely dominant and recessive. Some are blended, which makes something different than either gene (think hazel eyes in people or olive eggers in chickens). We won't even talk about mutations!

The good news is there are probably many folks on this site who can help you. Try the very long "EE Braggers" thread. If I remember correctly, someone named "gene goddess" started it, so you could ask her via personal message or find someone there who could connect you with a knowledgeable chickenologist

. "illia" might be a good person to ask.(hope it's spelled right!)

I think one of the best thing about EEs are the surprises! They're like a box of chocolates..... Ida has one of my favorite color combos, golden brown with blue. She may also be a very special girl since her egg color varies. Never heard of that!

Hope this was of some help. This aspect of chickens is new to me, so I'm really curious to see what the experts say. I'd love it if you could let me know where you find your answer if it's different than this thread. And I'd really love to see baby pics!

Good luck, Lynda

Wow! Thanks Lynda! Your explanation makes a lot of sense. I honestly think I have a better understanding of how things work now and am even MORE excited to see what the chicks will come out as.

Off to check on Ida and then come back to find the EE thread!

 

[chickenreferee]

Hi chickenreferee==

Pretty amazing hen. I want one. ;O) Be sure to post the pictures and keep us updated on how the chicks will develop. I'm subscribing.

Hi Lynda,

Thanks for taking the time to post the genetics explanation!!

Haha I'll have to post some pictures of her eggs when she starts laying again. It may be that the blue eggs are just a different shade of green? I dunno....we'll see. I will definitely be posting pictures of the chicks. Hoping to find them hatched when I go out in a few minutes. There was a lot of activity last night!

 

[speckledhen]

Yes, she has the blue egg gene, which makes a hen lay blue or green eggs. Ida is laying green eggs. Actual egg color does not change, only shades of that color, depending on how much color is put on the egg before it comes out. I can tell you that Ida is not pure for pea comb by looking at her comb.

If the sire of her chicks is a single combed male, some chicks may have a modified pea but some will probably come out with a single comb--I know this from experience breeding BR and Delaware roosters over Ameraucana as well as Easter Egger hens such as Ida. If the chicks have a single comb, they'll lay a brown egg.

I have a pea combed hen who was hatched from a very blue egg (her parents were, visually, BBS Ameraucana), but she lays a brown egg. Her body type and temperament suggest that somewhere back in the lines, there is Sumatra blood, much to the surprise of the breeder and myself.

You just never know what throwback/recessive genes will pop up, especially with Easter Eggers, who are a mixed genetic soup anyway.

Not sure what colors the chicks will be. You won't get a splash since that is a black chicken who inherited two copies of the blue gene (not the blue egg gene)

 

[chickenreferee]

Yes, she has the blue egg gene, which makes a hen lay blue or green eggs. Ida is laying green eggs. Actual egg color does not change, only shades of that color, depending on how much color is put on the egg before it comes out. I can tell you that Ida is not pure for pea comb by looking at her comb.

If the sire of her chicks is a single combed male, some chicks may have a modified pea but some will probably come out with a single comb--I know this from experience breeding BR and Delaware roosters over Ameraucana as well as Easter Egger hens such as Ida. If the chicks have a single comb, they'll lay a brown egg.

I have a pea combed hen who was hatched from a very blue egg (her parents were, visually, BBS Ameraucana), but she lays a brown egg. Her body type and temperament suggest that somewhere back in the lines, there is Sumatra blood, much to the surprise of the breeder and myself.

You just never know what throwback/recessive genes will pop up, especially with Easter Eggers, who are a mixed genetic soup anyway.

Not sure what colors the chicks will be. You won't get a splash since that is a black chicken who inherited two copies of the blue gene (not the blue egg gene)

Thank you speckledhen. I'm obviously quite ignorant when it comes to genetics and what traits my birds do or don't possess. I'm hoping to learn more as this is quite an interesting topic.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

So glad SpeckledHen responded. I always learn something new from her posts!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

I know a bit about genetics in general, but not so much about chicken genetics. The idea is that genes come in pairs, so for every trait, such as comb type, Ida has one gene from her mom and one from dad. I think pea combs are dominant, which means Ida only has to have one gene for that trait to have a pea comb. It doesn't matter what the second gene is, might be dominant pea (giving her two of same gene) or might be a recessive gene for single comb (here's where my knowledge lacks -don't know for sure if single combs are recessive), but if she has the recessive gene, it will not be expressed (meaning you can't tell that she has it) but she can pass it on to her offspring.

Using shorthand helps: P=dominant pea comb gene p=recessive single comb gene (we'll just pretend this is true)

If Ida has PP and your roo has pp, then the only combination the chicks can get is Pp, (one gene from each parent) resulting in pea combs. It can be written like this: PP x pp = Pp (100 percent) all chicks have pea combs.

If, however, Ida has Pp, then your cross is Pp x pp = Pp (50 percent) and pp (50 percent) about half pea and half single comb chicks.

So you can tell what kind of genes Ida has from the chicks, but it's hard to predict without knowing. You can only know what genes an individual has if they have a recessive trait because they have to have both genes recessive for that trait to be expressed physically. And you have to know how the interacting genes express themselves. Does black and blue result in blue or black? What combination makes splash? Then, to further complicate things, not all genes are purely dominant and recessive. Some are blended, which makes something different than either gene (think hazel eyes in people or olive eggers in chickens). We won't even talk about mutations!

The good news is there are probably many folks on this site who can help you. Try the very long "EE Braggers" thread. If I remember correctly, someone named "gene goddess" started it, so you could ask her via personal message or find someone there who could connect you with a knowledgeable chickenologist

. "illia" might be a good person to ask.(hope it's spelled right!)

I think one of the best thing about EEs are the surprises! They're like a box of chocolates..... Ida has one of my favorite color combos, golden brown with blue. She may also be a very special girl since her egg color varies. Never heard of that!

Hope this was of some help. This aspect of chickens is new to me, so I'm really curious to see what the experts say. I'd love it if you could let me know where you find your answer if it's different than this thread. And I'd really love to see baby pics!

Good luck, Lynda

You explained the pea comb gene PERFECTLY

Even used the correct symbol!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Yes, she has the blue egg gene, which makes a hen lay blue or green eggs. Ida is laying green eggs. Actual egg color does not change, only shades of that color, depending on how much color is put on the egg before it comes out. I can tell you that Ida is not pure for pea comb by looking at her comb.

If the sire of her chicks is a single combed male, some chicks may have a modified pea but some will probably come out with a single comb--I know this from experience breeding BR and Delaware roosters over Ameraucana as well as Easter Egger hens such as Ida. If the chicks have a single comb, they'll lay a brown egg.

I have a pea combed hen who was hatched from a very blue egg (her parents were, visually, BBS Ameraucana), but she lays a brown egg. Her body type and temperament suggest that somewhere back in the lines, there is Sumatra blood, much to the surprise of the breeder and myself.

You just never know what throwback/recessive genes will pop up, especially with Easter Eggers, who are a mixed genetic soup anyway.

Not sure what colors the chicks will be. You won't get a splash since that is a black chicken who inherited two copies of the blue gene (not the blue egg gene)

Great comments!