Genetics and autosexing breeds

[Lensters]

Hello Chicken Gurus,

First, I need to learn chicken genetics. What is the best book?

Second, I want to make some Barnebars, Welbars and eventually some Hambars. Since I don't know chicken genetics (but I'm learning) I was searching through the UK sites for more information and this is the Welbar "recipe" I came up with from my readings:

To create a Welbar you start with a Welsummer rooster with a Barred Rock hen to create the F1 generation.

Save cocks from the F1s and mate them to Welsummer hens.

The F2s will be black barred, black, partridge, and barred partridge colored. Keep only the black barred cocks and the unbarred partridge pullets. Use the F2 black barred roos on the F2 unbarred partridge hens and then you have Welbars.

Here are my questions regarding the recipe:

a) Is it correct?

b) Will all the F3 generation be true Welbars?

Here is another statement, in my words, of what two UK breeders wrote:

To increase your genetic diversity you can cross in more Welsummer hens latter and you will be back to the F2 generation.

My question here is:

This really isn't the same as the F2 generation as only the cockerels and all of the cockerels will have barring so sorting for the black barred cockerels and unbarred partridge pullets should be much easier correct? Just cull partridge barred cockerels and black pullets as opposed to a complete mix. This cull should also be able to be accomplished at hatching since there should be no cross over in this mix.

Please point out anything that I am incorrect about as I would rather learn by shared wisdom than by (bad) experience.

Len

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

For a hard copy book, and well worth the cost, www.chickencolours.com.

For good websites: Poultry Genetics for the Non-Profesional and Poultry Genetics for Exhibition Breeders

 

[Krys109uk]

The F2s will be black barred, black, partridge, and barred partridge colored. Keep only the black barred cocks and the unbarred partridge pullets. Use the F2 black barred roos on the F2 unbarred partridge hens and then you have Welbars.

Keep the barred partridge coloured birds from your F2s discard the rest. These have only one barring gene you need to pick up the second barring gene in the males. Breed the barred partridge coloured birds. From these keep the females & only those males which inherit two barring genes. From this point they will breed true.​

 

[blackdotte]

This might help

David

 

[Lensters]

Quote:
Yes, I have seen that and it doesn't look right to me as I can't see how that would make an auto-sexing breed as both sexes will have barring. Take a look at:

http://www.welbar.co.uk/
http://www.rhodebar.co.uk/

Notice that the hens have no barring.

 

[blackdotte]

It is chart is correct, however barring (which is required in both sexes for auto sexing) does not show well on red birds. Barring is a disruption of growth of the normal feather pattern. Due to the way the colour is laid down in black birds the barring is crisper, look at exhibition Barred Rocks. Barring never shows distinctly on red/buff females and this was one of the main reasons red based autosexing breeds fell from favour, they were considered too dull compared with sex linked crosses. Then came hybrids and they were gone.
David