Leg color

[Malorum]

Hello all,

I have a few questions about leg colour and need help applying that knowledge to my partridge chantecler. The hen shown below is the only PC hen I have and have seen that looks like this and there are a few things about her that I really like so I want to keep her around and see what can be done with her offspring. One thing I don't like is her leg colour, I'd like more of a yellow. If you could help me out with the below it would be much appreciated!

1) what would you call the leg color shown in the photo? The backsides are a browny yellow and on the front there is quite a bit of brown/black.

2) Are yellow legs dominant or recessive? Is there a co-dominancy? Is leg colour passed on by the hen, rooster or both?

3) to acheive yellow legs in her offspring, what is the best course of action? Pair her with a yellow legged rooster and select for yellow legs and continue this process?

 

[MysteryChicken]

That's just a dark wash on the legs. How old is the bird? The dark wash may disappear.

To get better yellow, breed her to another Chantecler with bright yellow skin?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

That dark wash will not disappear. It needs to be bred out. It's excessive melanin that needs to be bred out of the gene pool.

Hens express it more than cocks. Some "wash" on front of legs is ok for many breeds. Some breeds simply gave up and dark legs are the standard- Australs and such. I'm not a fan of it either and prefer bright yellow too.

 

[MysteryChicken]

That dark wash will not disappear. It needs to be bred out. It's excessive melanin that needs to be bred out of the gene pool.

Hens express it more than cocks. Some "wash" on front of legs is ok for many breeds. Some breeds simply gave up and dark legs are the standard- Australs and such. I'm not a fan of it either and prefer bright yellow too.

It disappears as Barred Rock pullets mature into a bright yellow. So I don't see why it won't fade with this breed.

 

[HeatherKellyB]

@RoostersAreAwesome @MysteryChicken @EmmaRainboe

 

[Egghead_Jr]

That's exactly what you'd do. Intentionally select a breeder then cull offspring, weed out the undesired traits. Rinse and repeat. Your main goal is to eliminate the dark pigment on legs but there will be other characteristics selected for or weeded out in offspring every generation.

 

[Malorum]

It disappears as Barred Rock pullets mature into a bright yellow. So I don't see why it won't fade with this breed.

She is about a year old now. If anything, I would say that her legs have darkened with time.

 

[NatJ]

3) to acheive yellow legs in her offspring, what is the best course of action? Pair her with a yellow legged rooster and select for yellow legs and continue this process?

Yes.

If you do not get any yellow legged offspring, then take some of what you do get and cross them to a yellow legged bird and you should get some with yellow legs in that next generation.

 

[Malorum]

Probably yellow legged male.
If any sex-linked genes are involved, that would be the more useful direction.
And if there are no sex-linked genes involved, then the direction won't matter.

Also, it may be easier to find good males, just because so many people want hens

That's very true, people post plenty of good looking roosters on facebook.

Thanks for your help! Much appreciated

 

[MysteryChicken]

She is about a year old now. If anything, I would say that her legs have darkened with time.

Oh, really?
She must have dark yellow shanks then. Half, & half.

It should be easily bred out.