Introducing... Tuxedo Blue Runners! (duckling pics inside!)

[FenDruadin]

Ha ha. This is my invented name for a non-standard color that I am hatching out a lot of at the moment. I believe it is genetically: one black gene, one blue dilution gene, one brown dilution gene, and one Runner pattern gene. The result (based on initial analysis--I haven't grown one out yet): A pale blue back and head, bright white neck and chest (yellow in the duckling). In a word: Adorable!

Here's a pic:

Together with a blue and a black:

I actually like this color a lot, and am a little sorry I'm not keeping any of this bunch. I may have to raise a few tuxedo blues myself and see if I can get the colors consistently. I think they're adorable.

 

[Anarchist.Quacker]

They look adorable! I'd love to see how they look when full grown.

 

[duckyfromoz]

It would be interesing to see then grown out and also to see a second generation..I know of a few people over here in OZ who would love some of those ducklings!!!!!!!!

 

[FenDruadin]

I think they're adorable too!

I wish I knew their exact genetic make-up. Right now, the flock is running together so I can only make educated guesses. But I believe these are the offspring of a black drake and fawn/white hens. Not sure where the blue dilution comes from though... the other possibility is the fawn/white drake and blue hens, but the black drake is the dominant drake so it's hard to imagine getting SO MANY offspring from that fawn/white drake, especially when there are NO pure fawn/whites in the batch, but several blues & a couple blacks.

So here is what I think: one black gene, one brown dilution gene, one runner pattern gene. But where does the blue tint come from? Does brown dilution on black look similar to blue dilution in a duckling? It's just very pale, though--paler than the blue of my true blues. Would that result from there being only one black gene?

I am going to have to raise a batch of these and start breeding them to see what happens. Could be a stunning new Runner color.

 

[fisharescary]

Oh! that is so striking. Keep on it, and keep us updated. I would love to see what happens.