Genetics for Dummies?

[SwampPrincessChick]

Hello! There is only one thing that I do not understand in chickens: genetics. Actually, I do not understand genetics in any kind of animal. This is a very interesting topic but a very confusing one. I seriously need a link to an article or something that will help me out, or maybe if you want to waste your time on me then you can write me some basics in chicken genetics. I need a guide on chicken genetics for dummies.

@NatJ You are very educated on genetics, maybe you can help me out?

 

[Debbie292d]

I learned color genetics which is pretty easy, but neverending with all of the varieties and combos of Silkies. I assume you are not talking color genetics though? If so, here's where I started:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-color-genetics.1219858/page-2#post-19511066

Then, someone shared this with me when I was learning about feather types, like frizzled, cuckoo (barred, double barred, etc.)

https://kippenjungle.nl/chickencalculator.html

 

[NatJ]

Hello! There is only one thing that I do not understand in chickens: genetics. Actually, I do not understand genetics in any kind of animal. This is a very interesting topic but a very confusing one. I seriously need a link to an article or something that will help me out, or maybe if you want to waste your time on me then you can write me some basics in chicken genetics. I need a guide on chicken genetics for dummies.

@NatJ You are very educated on genetics, maybe you can help me out?

You could see if this helps:
http://www.sellers.kippenjungle.nl/page0.html

That page has links to several others. The one labeled Part I talks about basic genetics (targeted at chickens, but heavy overlap with genetics for any other living thing, animal or plant), Part II about some specific chicken genes in more depth, Part III has a table of chicken genes with a little bit of information about each one (more genes, less info per gene, as compared with Part II).

Are you interested in certain genes in particular? (Feather colors, specific favorite colors, egg colors, body features like comb types or foot feathers, etc.) Any of them need a basic idea of how genes work, but after that it sometimes helps to focus on a small bit that seems interesting, understand it thoroughly, and then use that better understanding to tackle other details. (For example: at one point I got interested in comb types, but once I had a good grasp of dominant/recessive and how the rose and pea genes could work together to give walnut comb, that made some of the other genetic things easier to understand as well.)

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I learned color genetics which is pretty easy, but neverending with all of the varieties and combos of Silkies. I assume you are not talking color genetics though? If so, here's where I started:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...n-color-genetics.1219858/page-2#post-19511066

Then, someone shared this with me when I was learning about feather types, like frizzled, cuckoo (barred, double barred, etc.)

https://kippenjungle.nl/chickencalculator.html

You could see if this helps:
http://www.sellers.kippenjungle.nl/page0.html

That page has links to several others. The one labeled Part I talks about basic genetics (targeted at chickens, but heavy overlap with genetics for any other living thing, animal or plant), Part II about some specific chicken genes in more depth, Part III has a table of chicken genes with a little bit of information about each one (more genes, less info per gene, as compared with Part II).

Are you interested in certain genes in particular? (Feather colors, specific favorite colors, egg colors, body features like comb types or foot feathers, etc.) Any of them need a basic idea of how genes work, but after that it sometimes helps to focus on a small bit that seems interesting, understand it thoroughly, and then use that better understanding to tackle other details. (For example: at one point I got interested in comb types, but once I had a good grasp of dominant/recessive and how the rose and pea genes could work together to give walnut comb, that made some of the other genetic things easier to understand as well.)

Thank you both very much! I am more interested in feather color, things like comb type and leg color would probably be good starters because they are easier though, right?

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I already know the different types of combs, feather color, and leg color, but the genetics of those, I have no idea. Genetics are just not my thing but I want it to be.

 

[NatJ]

Thank you both very much! I am more interested in feather color, things like comb type and leg color would probably be good starters because they are easier though, right?

Some of the feather colors are pretty easy, some are harder. Comb type and leg color can each be affected by at least three different genes, so probably in the middle as regards how hard they are to understand. Some feather colors are easier than that, some harder.

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

Some of the feather colors are pretty easy, some are harder. Comb type and leg color can each be affected by at least three different genes, so probably in the middle as regards how hard they are to understand. Some feather colors are easier than that, some harder.

I already have some feather color genetic questions regarding my own chickens, should I ask it here or make a new post?

 

[Pipsnchicks]

I'm working on adding all of the genes here, for both feathers and other things like comb types, the extra toe, etc. I find that pictures help so much, so I've slowly but surely been adding more to it as it grows.

https://www.pipsnchicks.com/chicken-genetics

 

[SwampPrincessChick]

I'm working on adding all of the genes here, for both feathers and other things like comb types, the extra toe, etc. I find that pictures help so much, so I've slowly but surely been adding more to it as it grows.

https://www.pipsnchicks.com/chicken-genetics

Thank you so much! Pictures is what helps me out in understanding genetics. Just words will not suffice.

 

[NatJ]

I already have some feather color genetic questions regarding my own chickens, should I ask it here or make a new post?

You could probably do it either way. I would think it's on-topic for this thread, but you might get more responses if you make a new thread with a title telling what you want to know.

Thank you so much! Pictures is what helps me out in understanding genetics. Just words will not suffice.

I mostly do words, which work well for me, but sounds like it's not as good a fit for you. I'm very glad that someone else has created and linked a source that has pictures!