Genetics, where to get started?

[Ndahly]

I would like to learn as much as I can about breeding and genetics. I'm really new to genetics and really don't even know many basics. I would really like to get into breeding for quality and SOP but I have no idea where to get started. Honestly I'm not even sure what I'd like to breed just yet but all the unique breeds catch my eye. How do I know what to look for in a hen and rooster to get the right breed characteristics.
And where do you find quality breeders?
I feel like I found a whole new world when it comes to chickens!

 

[nicalandia]

I would like to learn as much as I can about breeding and genetics. I'm really new to genetics and really don't even know many basics. I would really like to get into breeding for quality and SOP but I have no idea where to get started. Honestly I'm not even sure what I'd like to breed just yet but all the unique breeds catch my eye. How do I know what to look for in a hen and rooster to get the right breed characteristics.
And where do you find quality breeders?
I feel like I found a whole new world when it comes to chickens!

You really don't need to know anything about genetics to breed for SQ birds that follow the SOP, to be honest most people I know that breed top quality birds don't know anything about it. Just basic animal husbandry, knowledge about the characteristic of their preferred breed and a lot of passion and dedication.

 

[DarJones]

Genetics is a lot more specialized than breeding based on phenotype. In general, if breeding from an established breed, genetics is not needed as per Nicalandia above. However, if you are interested in breeding a specific set of traits in a new breed, learning about chicken genetics is very useful. Here are a few examples:

One of the comb type genes is on chromosome 1. Variations associated with this gene result in straight comb, pea comb, and at least one other type that is not currently named.

The gene for blue eggs is also on chromosome 1. There are two variants referred to as Asian blue and South American blue. Blue egg is moderately closely linked with the gene for pea comb in many breeds such as Ameraucanas. In practice, this means selection for pea comb in a known blue egg breed almost guarantees the chick will be homozygous (2 copies of oocyanin) for blue eggs.

The gene for rose comb is located on chromosome 7 and is a result of an inversion of a segment of the chromosome. There are two documented variants with the most common variant (R1) associated with reduced sperm motility for roosters. The R2 variant restores the segment of the sperm motility gene that was whacked in the original inversion.

Yellow legs is a very interesting trait that was not present in chickens 2000 years ago. It was brought into modern breeds several hundred years ago in crosses with a wild species (green junglefowl iirc). What makes yellow legs interesting is that chickens with yellow legs show up in colder climates where white leg chickens tend to be found in warmer regions. Yellow legs are from accumulation of carotenoids that give eggs their yellow to orange yolk colors.

If you want to read some interesting articles, look up junglefowl and read about them and the history of domestic chickens.