Question about Black Sex Link

[Bullitt]

Black Sex-Link chickens are created by crossing a Rhode Island Red, a New Hampshire, or even a production red rooster with a Barred Plymouth Rock hen.

All the chickens mentioned have yellow skin. Many of the Black Sex-Link hens I have seen have grey legs, while the roosters seem to have yellow legs.

http://www.cacklehatchery.com/blacksexlinkpage.html

I know there is a lot of variation with crosses, but how is it that two chickens with yellow skin produce a hen with grey skin?

 

[tadkerson]

The male and female black sex linked chicken are almost genetically the same. The male carries a barring gene and the females do not. It is the barring gene that is making the legs of the male a yellow color. Both male and female carry an extended black gene that adds black pigment to the shanks- the barring gene inhibits the addition of black pigment to the shanks of the male.

Tim

 

[Bullitt]

The male and female black sex linked chicken are almost genetically the same. The male carries a barring gene and the females do not. It is the barring gene that is making the legs of the male a yellow color. Both male and female carry an extended black gene that adds black pigment to the shanks- the barring gene inhibits the addition of black pigment to the shanks of the male.

Tim

Thank you for the information. I figured there was a genetic reason, and I knew someone here would know the answer.

It is still amazing that a rooster and a hen from the same parents can look so different.

By the way, what type of rooster is the rooster in your avatar picture?

 

[tadkerson]

He is a cornish cross buff orpington hybrid. from an F1 x F1 cross.

Tim