Genetics of black

[halo]

I would love some input on this. I have some black orps, they have that gorgeous green sheen. I am also growing out 2 black rock chicks, which do not have that same sheen. Im sure its because they are from blue breeding. Is there any way I can get black with that beautiful sheen on these black rocks? Will that sheen appear after a generation or two of breeding black?

 

[tadkerson]

Your black orpingtons are most likely extended black (E/E) at the E locus. They also contain genes that add black to the birds. I have never seen any research on the green sheen so I can not comment on the green sheen with respect to what research says. I have been told that birds that are black and carry the gold gene produce the best green sheen.

If your black rocks have black legs they have the extended black gene that makes them black. If the legs are yellow or dusky yellow then they could be brown (eb/eb) or birchen (ER/ER). If they are eb then they also may have the pattern gene (Pg) in them.

I do know that the green color is not caused by pigments. The feathers have very small hollow spheres in them and it is how the light interacts with the sphere that creates the iridescent green color. The green light bounces around in the sphere and reflects to your eye as green. All the other colors of light are absorbed by the feather or are reflect off so you do not see them.

Tim

 

[halo]

Thank you very much for your response. Interesting that is not a pigment per se, but a physical attribute of the feathers themselves. The black rocks do have yellow legs. I hope as they grow, they will get a bit of that green sheen. It is so beautiful.

 

[speckledhen]

The only thing I can say is that Tim is right about the green sheen. I was told that the gold based, rather than silver based, birds have the best beetle-green sheen. Of course, Tim is right about everything else, too, LOL!

 

[Guitartists]

Interesting stuff

 

[MissPrissy]

That is the simplest, most easy to understand explanation I have ever read.

Thank you, Tim!

 

[halo]

So are my black rocks gold based or silver based?

 

[tiki244]

Quote:
siilver based; You would need some more rocks to get that green sheen or you would have several years of project birds.

 

[halo]

So why are my rocks silver based? And I assume the black orps are gold based, since they are so green? What exactly is the basis of them being silver based or gold based?

This stuff is so interesting....I understand so little of it, but I think its great stuff anyway.

 

[tiki244]

It is a genetic theory,,,,,,supposedly the gold based allele/gene makes the black birds have the beetle green sheen. Go to www.PekinBantams.com and look under breeding birchens and you will find a little more discussion on the genetics of this silver/gold thing. Look under breeding blacks and you will find a little different discussion on it.