Norman the Rooster

[dan26552]

I managed to get a great photo of the pair in their outdoor pen yesterday. I've taken to penning them when I can't watch because I don't like the looks Napoleon has been giving Norma... the last thing I need is to have my hatches set back by three weeks while I wait for Norma to "clear up" so I'm sure of who the daddy is.

Oh wow! They're so Beetle green!

 

[QueenMisha]

Thanks everybody!

You tell Napoleon that you will be having none of that chicken lust going around. You need pure Bates birdies over there  .

They look lovely together, do you think you will have any hidden genes pop up in their offspring? 

Oh, I've told him. He's got enough ladies as it is!

As for hidden genes... the most obvious variation I'm expecting are the 25% of chicks who will be Silver Duckwing (ish), as both Norman and Norma are carriers for the gene. If you go back to original post, you'll see Norman's brother, and the male Duckwing chicks will look quite a lot like him - I've yet to get a photo of the other sister, Wasp, but she looks like a melanized (darker) Silver Duckwing female.

I know 100% of the offspring will be multiple toed (and possibly multiple spurred? Not sure on the genetics on that one) and the majority will be (lightly) feather legged. 50% of the chicks will be non bearded, and 50% will have a small beard like Norman. As for combs I'm looking at probably 75% pea and 25% single. Ugh, now I'm imagining a single comb on the breed... there's something distinctly unappealing about that, but that could just be because I prefer small and/or flat combs (like pea or walnut). I imagine they'll all share the same sort of body type and beetle green sheen (except the Duckwings).

Oh; and there is a slim chance of Silkie-feathered chicks. Because momma was a hetero carrier of the gene meaning she would have produced 50% carrier offspring as well. So I'm not counting on it, but if both Norman and Norma happened to be carriers... could be some very interesting birds indeed.

I've run it through the chicken calculator a couple times and I think it comes out to several hundred potential combinations, taking every possible variation into account. I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm not sure how heritable the personality will be, but I'm hopeful. I'm also interested to see how much the kids will "talk." It occurs to me know that I've never mentioned this and I've only ever posted photos so you guys don't know, but another unique feature of both Norman and Norma is how chatty they are. Norman is constantly talking and yelling. He's like the chicken version of a Chinese goose. Norma's the same - she makes noises I've never even heard hens make before.

Another factor I'm excited to watch is their "wing thing." I haven't captured it in a lot of photos, but both of them do this odd thing where they hold their wings out - like most chickens do when it's hot. Except it isn't at all linked to weather, Norman's done it his whole life and I've seen Norma do it often since I got her back.

 

[Braxton Brigade]

Thanks everybody!
Oh, I've told him. He's got enough ladies as it is!

As for hidden genes... the most obvious variation I'm expecting are the 25% of chicks who will be Silver Duckwing (ish), as both Norman and Norma are carriers for the gene. If you go back to original post, you'll see Norman's brother, and the male Duckwing chicks will look quite a lot like him - I've yet to get a photo of the other sister, Wasp, but she looks like a melanized (darker) Silver Duckwing female.

I know 100% of the offspring will be multiple toed (and possibly multiple spurred? Not sure on the genetics on that one) and the majority will be (lightly) feather legged. 50% of the chicks will be non bearded, and 50% will have a small beard like Norman. As for combs I'm looking at probably 75% pea and 25% single. Ugh, now I'm imagining a single comb on the breed... there's something distinctly unappealing about that, but that could just be because I prefer small and/or flat combs (like pea or walnut). I imagine they'll all share the same sort of body type and beetle green sheen (except the Duckwings).

Oh; and there is a slim chance of Silkie-feathered chicks. Because momma was a hetero carrier of the gene meaning she would have produced 50% carrier offspring as well. So I'm not counting on it, but if both Norman and Norma happened to be carriers... could be some very interesting birds indeed.

I've run it through the chicken calculator a couple times and I think it comes out to several hundred potential combinations, taking every possible variation into account. I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm not sure how heritable the personality will be, but I'm hopeful. I'm also interested to see how much the kids will "talk." It occurs to me know that I've never mentioned this and I've only ever posted photos so you guys don't know, but another unique feature of both Norman and Norma is how chatty they are. Norman is constantly talking and yelling. He's like the chicken version of a Chinese goose. Norma's the same - she makes noises I've never even heard hens make before.

Another factor I'm excited to watch is their "wing thing." I haven't captured it in a lot of photos, but both of them do this odd thing where they hold their wings out - like most chickens do when it's hot. Except it isn't at all linked to weather, Norman's done it his whole life and I've seen Norma do it often since I got her back.

You have thought it all through! I am very impressed, the fun part has yet to come...

You mention quite a few things that are unique to Norman and his siblings, honestly every new quirk I read about the more I want a couple hahaha.

 

[N F C]

Thanks everybody!
Oh, I've told him. He's got enough ladies as it is!

As for hidden genes... the most obvious variation I'm expecting are the 25% of chicks who will be Silver Duckwing (ish), as both Norman and Norma are carriers for the gene. If you go back to original post, you'll see Norman's brother, and the male Duckwing chicks will look quite a lot like him - I've yet to get a photo of the other sister, Wasp, but she looks like a melanized (darker) Silver Duckwing female.

I know 100% of the offspring will be multiple toed (and possibly multiple spurred? Not sure on the genetics on that one) and the majority will be (lightly) feather legged. 50% of the chicks will be non bearded, and 50% will have a small beard like Norman. As for combs I'm looking at probably 75% pea and 25% single. Ugh, now I'm imagining a single comb on the breed... there's something distinctly unappealing about that, but that could just be because I prefer small and/or flat combs (like pea or walnut). I imagine they'll all share the same sort of body type and beetle green sheen (except the Duckwings).

Oh; and there is a slim chance of Silkie-feathered chicks. Because momma was a hetero carrier of the gene meaning she would have produced 50% carrier offspring as well. So I'm not counting on it, but if both Norman and Norma happened to be carriers... could be some very interesting birds indeed.

I've run it through the chicken calculator a couple times and I think it comes out to several hundred potential combinations, taking every possible variation into account. I've got my work cut out for me.

I'm not sure how heritable the personality will be, but I'm hopeful. I'm also interested to see how much the kids will "talk." It occurs to me know that I've never mentioned this and I've only ever posted photos so you guys don't know, but another unique feature of both Norman and Norma is how chatty they are. Norman is constantly talking and yelling. He's like the chicken version of a Chinese goose. Norma's the same - she makes noises I've never even heard hens make before.

Another factor I'm excited to watch is their "wing thing." I haven't captured it in a lot of photos, but both of them do this odd thing where they hold their wings out - like most chickens do when it's hot. Except it isn't at all linked to weather, Norman's done it his whole life and I've seen Norma do it often since I got her back.

QueenMisha, I'm not familiar with the "chicken calculator" you mention. Can you explain a bit about that for me? I've never bred chickens before (just raised hatchery chicks) and I find this all very interesting.

Thanks for your continued updates on Norman and Norma!

 

[pattyhen]

I do not understand the genetic thing at all. You've lost me completely. I think a chick that would be as close to Normans looks and personality would be perfect. The wing thing might be a trait that they pass down to their offspring which is a good trait to have since it is so unique.

Has Norma laid any eggs yet?

 

[CuzChickens]

Yeah, i see what you mean not wanting to sell chicks. i would be protective to! you might have the next big breed there, you do not want to take any chance screwing it up!

 

[QueenMisha]

QueenMisha, I'm not familiar with the "chicken calculator" you mention. Can you explain a bit about that for me? I've never bred chickens before (just raised hatchery chicks) and I find this all very interesting.

Thanks for your continued updates on Norman and Norma!

Actually, it's just a literal chicken genetics calculator, and the version I use can be found here:

http://kippenjungle.nl/kruisingCQ.html

It allows you to input color patterns or specific genes and calculates the results for you. Very handy in both learning genetics and testing crosses.

You can either pick a color pattern from the "Browse male" and "Browse female" tabs, and it inputs the most common genetic makeup for that coloration, or you can pick specific genes from the main page and create the makeup yourself (or add physical mutation genes like crest, extra toes, feathered legs, etc. to a certain color pattern). Obviously it can't take into account every possible helper gene or phenotypical difference, but overall it's quite accurate.

I do not understand the genetic thing at all.  You've lost me completely.  I think a chick that would be as close to Normans looks and personality would be perfect.  The wing thing might be a trait that they pass down to their offspring which is a good trait to have since it is so unique.     Has Norma laid any eggs yet?  

Yup, I'm basing the breed standard currently in the works on Norman and Norma, so the "ideal" representation of the breed will look close to identical to them, with some minor tweaks (beard and feathered legs on both sexes, more widely spread fifth toes, and overall slightly smaller size).

She laid two eggs between Monday and Tuesday and one egg on Thursday. So far she's proven to be a 3-4 egg per week layer. Not great, but I'm not terribly inclined to care - that's what hatchery birds are for. With the mix she is, I'm actually surprised because that's pretty decent.

Yeah, i see what you mean not wanting to sell chicks. i would be protective to! you might have the next big breed there, you do not want to take any chance screwing it up!

We'll see. I'd love to make them a more popular phenomenon, some time in the future. For now I just need to hatch a TON of chicks and cull (sell) heavily to get down to the ones I do want to keep. Then convince my boss that oh yes, I really do need just a bit more space for multiple generations of breeders... and their offspring...

 

[drumstick diva]

Queen Misha, if petitioning your boss for more space would help, I'm sure an army of Norman followers would jump in to comply. Me first!

 

[N F C]

QueenMisha, thanks for sharing the info about the calculator. Interesting!

 

[CuzChickens]

Queen Misha,  if petitioning your boss for more space would help,  I'm sure an army of Norman followers would jump in to comply.  Me first!

x5!