Genetics

[aurissavannahs]

Thanks for your responses. I want the standard to be as much like the Norwegian standard as possible so they will stay true to type. I think it is fascinating that they have two types of barring. That is more than I have been able to find out so far anywhere else.

These are some of my Jaerhon pullets when they were at point of lay last summer. They are the dark variety. They were brown as chicks so I would say they are eb. However, would they be considered to have a salmon breast which would indicate they are e+. The light variety have chipmunk striped chicks and look similar to the dark hens except the dark hens have grey fluff below the vent and the light hens have light fluff in that area. Could you clear this up for me? Thanks for any and all information.

Tim Shelton, I found your book on the authorhouse.com site. Does your book have color pictures? I am familiar with genetic terminology but feel I need pictures to understand some of the color terminology for chickens.

 

[tadkerson]

As you said,brown down color and lack of salmon breast indicate they are a dark brown phenotype. The chipmunk and salmon breast indicate a gold duck wing phenotype.

The birds are carrying a restrictor which will change the color of the breast so even if they are gold duck wing they may not have a salmon breast. You will have to go by the down color. Columbian ( a restrictor) causes the breast to be a tan color on dark brown hens and a ginger color on gold duck wing hens. The color can very depending on the modifiers.

The dark brown restrictor produces a orange tan color on the dark brown females breast and and the dark brown restrictor dilutes the salmon breast of a wild type female.

The genetics are not that important when you are trying to develop a standard. The problem with using a Norwegian standard is something may be lost in the translation. If you can find the standard on line, you can use an internet translator to translate the standard.

Tim