Is barring sex-linked?

[losttexan]

I realize correlation does not equal causation, but I am noticing a serious skew (as in all the way) in my backyard mixes displaying an obvious barred phenotype to male. Of those that breed barred chickens, do you observe a similar skew, or do I have something else lurking?

 

[GitaBooks]

They are partially sex-linked. The males have whiter and wider light bars at hen the hens and the male chicks have a larger, more solid white dot on top of the head. Females may have darker colored legs when young as well.

 

[losttexan]

Sorry - I didn't ask the question very well. I have noticed that when letting my flock breed mixed, those chicks displaying obvious barring in their phenotype are almost always males. What I'm wondering: does anyone else see a connection between barring and a prevalence or skew towards cockerels?

 

[GitaBooks]

Sorry about that.

Barring can be, if mixed with certain colorations. That is how the Black star is made. However, in my flock, I get both hen barreds and rooster barreds, though my roos often are white with barring on the hackles and tail.

Hope this helps.

 

[junebuggena]

Barring is sexlinked, in that, a barred hen can only pass her barring on to her male offspring. A barred rooster can pass his barring to both male and female offspring. If your main rooster is not barred, but you have hens that are barred, then any chicks born with a white head spot (barred) will likely be male. This is how black sexlinks are produced.

 

[losttexan]

Barring is sexlinked, in that, a barred hen can only pass her barring on to her male offspring. A barred rooster can pass his barring to both male and female offspring. If your main rooster is not barred, but you have hens that are barred, then any chicks born with a white head spot (barred) will likely be male. This is how black sexlinks are produced.

Excellent - got it! Thanks. Chicken genetics are fascinating.