Has something to do with eb the brown mutation and the charcoal gene I think. The charcoal gene causes the dark head. Not exactly sure how its interaction with eb causes it but apparently they can both be found in the buff coloring.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/MubEJB6Ak95Hwp2r/?mibextid=WC7FNeHello!
I'm trying to find information on chicken feather length and type genetics. I know there are multiple genes that control feather length. From what I'm aware, there are various non-molting genes that control feather length and different genes that also determine what areas of the body it is expressed. Ex: Onagadori vs Phoenix/Yokohama vs Genetic Hackle. Tell me more! Have the various genes been determined or is this something that breeders are still trying to discover?
I've also heard that feathering type can also affect feather length expression, such as soft vs hard feathered. I have heard of silkies being incorporated into breeding programs to improve feather quality in types such as the genetic hackle. Anyone have any information regarding the correlation? I know the silkied trait deletes the hooked barbicels that keep the feathers webbed together, does it also affect the feather shaft/quill? Could you theoretically breed a silkied yokohama/sumatra/etc. that maintains the other SOP traits? Or a long-tailed silkie?
Lastly, I've heard that self-blue/lavender can cause brittle/ratty feathering and bald patches around the shoulders if not occasionally bred back to black. Is this a color gene that can present in long feathered chickens without undermining the feather quality by periodically breeding back to black or splits? I rarely hear of the problem in silkies, is that because the down-like feather type masks the less severe feather quality issues?
Info dump me please! I love genetics (and fluffy chickens)!
Thank you very much! This is great info. Didn't know about all these benefits from the naked neck gene.
