Mottling, barring and leg color

[Goose and Fig]

1-I have read that mottling can dilute or inhibit (not sure if that is the correct word) leg color. Is the same true for barring? (as in marans cuckoo)


2-Can you identify new chicks with mottling by thier feet, as opposed to ones without a mottling gene? I have some hatched with pink feet and toes, and some with solid legs. Thanks!

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
recessive mottling on its own cant inhibit dermal or epidermal melanin, seems like if a mottled line does is because there is a closed linked gene that does the inhibiting,

Barring seems to inhibit dermal melanin BUT, Id(dominant Dermal Inhibitor) is Tightly linked to the Barring gene by as close as 14 CentiMorgan... meaning that there is a 14% chance of gene crossover(Barring crossing over to id+) example barred silkies..


can you post pics of your chicks..?

 

[Goose and Fig]

I grew out some mottled chicks that eventaully lost the mottling. I don't know why this happens. BUT I just hatched some more and a few of them have the washed out looking feet. Black legs, but pink feet like they stepped in bleach. The older birds I grew out now have solid black/slate legs that are the standard for solid colored birds of thier breed. I cannot remember if they had the white feet or not.

The other chicks from the same hatch that have less white down (don't "look" like mottled chicks) have solid dark legs. They come from several different hens that only a few carry some mottling.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
this trait(pink feet) is not an indication of recessive mottling...

 

[Goose and Fig]

Maybe its just coincidence? Or could it mean they are not "pure" for mottling like my houdans are?

And what about cuckoo? Is it possible to get a dark legged cuckoo bird?

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
Mottling is a recessive trait and is recessive to none mottle bird, your chicks could carry mottling but you can´t tell untill you cross mate them to each other or to mottled birds..

Quote:
I believe is possible, one will need to use show quality barred silkies.. read this link..

http://www.the-coop.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=96971#Post96971

 

[Ridgerunner]

Quote:
Right. But it not unusual for chicks with only one copy of the gene to express it in juvenile plumage. It is not as generously expressed in juvenile plumage if there is only one copy of the gene, but you can often tell when a juvenile is split for mottling.

Adult plumage will not express it at all if the chicken is split for mottling. Since it is recessive, you need both copies to see it then.

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
Right. But it not unusual for chicks with only one copy of the gene to express it in juvenile plumage. It is not as generously expressed in juvenile plumage if there is only one copy of the gene, but you can often tell when a juvenile is split for mottling.

Adult plumage will not express it at all if the chicken is split for mottling. Since it is recessive, you need both copies to see it then.

Ok- that's what I was thinking. I am growing out the next generation hoping for another "split" to try it with. My only boy from the last group has just started showing red leakage so he's out.
They do appear mottled as chicks, and show lots of mottling on the chest up to about 3 months of age, then they are solid black. Ugh!

So- if they carried 2 mottling genes I would expect to see white/flecked legs instead of the dark?

 

[Goose and Fig]

Quote:
Mottling is a recessive trait and is recessive to none mottle bird, your chicks could carry mottling but you can´t tell untill you cross mate them to each other or to mottled birds..

Quote:
I believe is possible, one will need to use show quality barred silkies.. read this link..

http://www.the-coop.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=96971#Post96971

Very interesting. I cannot bring silkies into the mix though- that's a whole new can of worms.

 

[nicalandia]

Quote:
Right. But it not unusual for chicks with only one copy of the gene to express it in juvenile plumage. It is not as generously expressed in juvenile plumage if there is only one copy of the gene, but you can often tell when a juvenile is split for mottling.

Adult plumage will not express it at all if the chicken is split for mottling. Since it is recessive, you need both copies to see it then.

I would love to see pics of these chicks of yours..