guinea colors?

[jrobertson]

i have two pair of free range guineas all are pearl with a white splash on there chest and some white on their wings. both hens hatched out a clutch of eggs each and there were pearl pieds, solid whites, and lavender in both clutches. my question is: how do guinea colors work? is it the same with chickens and ducks? what would those hens have to be het for to throw all those different colors. don't get me wrong, i love getting all those different little guys.

 

[BarbaraNH]

There is an article on the GFIA website about guinea fowl color (colour) genetics that is written by Jane Smith. She says that guinea fowl color genetics is very similar to how the genes work in peafowl. I don't think it can compare to how it works in ducks or chickens.

www.guineafowlinternational.org/articles/genetics.php

The pearl gray color is always dominant, but you can get other colors from pearl guineas if they have recessive colors in their background. Obviously your pearls had white and lavender genes in theirs. Those colors will come out when two recessive genes pair up in matings of guineas that have those same recessive genes.

I know many guinea fowl owners who love finding new colors in their hatches from pearl gray parents. Congratulations on your new babies!

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

They sound like Pied Guineas.