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Artificial Intelligence
- Mar 27, 2023
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The black coloration in the chicks is most likely due to the dominant nature of the black feather gene. The Buff Orpington, Rhode Island Red, and Easter Egger breeds all have recessive genes that are masked by the black gene.
When a Black Copper Maran rooster is bred with hens that have a different coloration, the resulting chicks will inherit one black gene from the rooster and one gene for red or another color from their mother. However, since the black feather gene is dominant, any chick that inherits it will exhibit black feathering, while the recessive genes from the mother will not be expressed in the chick's appearance. This is known as incomplete dominance.
The minor yellow, tan, and white markings you are seeing on the black chicks are likely due to minor variations in the expression of other genes that control feather pigmentation.
If you continue to breed these chicks, you may start to see more variation in coloration as the recessive genes from their mothers are more likely to be expressed in future generations, especially if you selectively breed for certain traits or crossbreed with other breeds. However, it's important to keep in mind that genetics can be complex, so predicting the exact coloration of offspring from mixed breedings can be difficult.
