Genetics Question: How Did I Get a Solid White Chick from Two Barred Birds?

[speckledhen]

Since the genetics hasn't been separated from the SOP section, I'm asking this question here. Both parents are Delaware x BR, half siblings, but I expected either a head spot on a black chick or a solid black chick, not a solid white chick with two tiny black spots on the head.

What should I expect for this chick to look like as an adult? It seems really more white than yellow, but it's darkish in there.

Parents, Delia and Rex, both sired by my Dellie rooster over different BR hens:




Got photos of the chick. This broody is not the bio-mom.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The Delaware grandfather is wheaten, the Barred Rock grandmother is Extended Black. Their offspring is split for both. That white chick is pure Wheaten. That should hold true for 25% of the chicks from that F1 cross.

Both Delaware and Barred Rock are Silver. No gold anywhere. That’s where the yellow down comes from.

The crossbred hen is barred. The rooster is barred. Delaware and Barred Rock are barred. That white chick carries barred but you can’t see the spot because of the down color. It should show up in any non-white feathers when it feathers out.

That chick should be colored like a Delaware when it feathers out though it is possible if not likely there will be some black leakage. As you know when you cross crosses you get surprises.

 

[speckledhen]

I sure didn't expect this one. Thanks, Ridge. Well, this should be interesting to watch it develop. The other chick is a pure Delaware so it's also yellow and I think that one is a cockerel at first impression.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’ve got one stranger than that Cynthia. My flock is a mix so about anything is possible, but I hatched out a blonde chick, real light solid red, this year. Not a speck of black down on it. It’s about seven weeks old and looks like it will be almost pure black. Other than a little white around the head and chest it’s feathering out black. It will be interesting to see what adult plumage looks like. I haven’t talked to the genetic gurus about this yet. I have a theory that it is because of melanizers that don’t affect the down but do the feathers but I don’t know if even that’s possible.

I’ve been working on getting black or red chickens, all with speckling and am just about there. But I find it boring to have them all start to look alike. I’m planning on adding in some buff in a couple of years just to stir the pot and get more surprises.

 

[speckledhen]

I’ve got one stranger than that Cynthia. My flock is a mix so about anything is possible, but I hatched out a blonde chick, real light solid red, this year. Not a speck of black down on it. It’s about seven weeks old and looks like it will be almost pure black. Other than a little white around the head and chest it’s feathering out black. It will be interesting to see what adult plumage looks like. I haven’t talked to the genetic gurus about this yet. I have a theory that it is because of melanizers that don’t affect the down but do the feathers but I don’t know if even that’s possible.

I’ve been working on getting black or red chickens, all with speckling and am just about there. But I find it boring to have them all start to look alike. I’m planning on adding in some buff in a couple of years just to stir the pot and get more surprises.

That is certainly a head-scratcher! I've seen some yellow chicks turn some odd colors as they feather out and mature, but red turn completely black? Wow, very cool. I'm sticking to my theory that genes are really gremlins, LOL.

 

[speckledhen]

Thought you'd like to see how this chick is doing at 2 weeks of age. It's the one with the tail and big wing feathers, developed far more than the same age pure Delaware chick. The BR chick is 5 days younger than the other two and has the same barred father as the white chick in question, different mother.

 

[speckledhen]

I have a question. This chick, if she feathers out and appears to be a Delaware pullet, though she comes from two barred parents, would you risk putting her in a Delaware breeding group? I guess I'm saying, would she throw some weird off-color chicks? I sure didn't expect her from two barred parents, so I guess she could throw something odd herself, but bred with a pure Delaware rooster, that coloring being so strong, maybe she'd just throw chicks as good as any other Delaware hen would. Naturally, body type is a factor, but that aside for now, for the sake of the question at hand....

Here she is today, looking for all intents and purposes, just like any other Delaware pullet chick:

 

[speckledhen]

No one cares to answer the Dellie breeding group question? Until they separate out the Genetics section, the question doesn't go in Breeds so this is the place.

Here she is today, barred hackles and all, looking just like any Delaware pullet. She has a black strip of feathers down her back that I wonder if it will change or she'll be weirdly colored, but so far, just looks like a Delaware.







ETA: Three days after posting the question again, still no one? I guess I might keep her, not sure yet, but I was asking for someone else- her cousin, a pure Delaware cockerel is going to his new home soon and I wanted to know for this person so I could tell him if it was even worth considering her for his Dellie group.

 

[aoxa]

Cute! I don't know Cynthia, but I hope someone answers your question!

 

[speckledhen]

Cute! I don't know Cynthia, but I hope someone answers your question!

Thanks, Justine, I appreciate that. She/he is 4 weeks old now. Still not sure how she will look or even 100% sure it's a pullet, but still leaning that way.