Questions about my barnyard mixes (white genes)

[ackie]

I know there is a lot going on with white genes, and since my birds are mixed, I dont actually know where to start.

white birds
Snowflake, cockrell:

mostly white with off-white areas on back and sides. there is one streak of black in his longest tail feather that is less than 50% of the feather

Moonflower, pullet:

(white in background)
I apparently dont have real pictures of her, but same general mix. I can get some if they're needed.


probable parents
one of these hens- spangled American game.. one might be mixed American game and Asil

this rooster- half gamehen, half orpington. I dont know what color the orpington was but the gamehen was light brown

they could be a mix of the above birds or a mix of their offspring, I dont know

other general flock pics in attachments in case it helps

my main question is: what would happen if I breed the two white chickens together?

(is it ethical to breed them together if they have the same parents?)

(is snowflakes messed up toe genetic?)

but I also want to learn the genetics in general

I have an understanding of basic genetics already, but none as far as chickens are concerned

 

[SebrightMix]

If the white chickens had a dominant white gene (which they probably do) the offapring would be all white. And if they have a recessive white gene then the offspring would be black I think

 

[ackie]

If the white chickens had a dominant white gene (which they probably do) the offapring would be all white. And if they have a recessive white gene then the offspring would be black I think

But if they had a dominant white gene (in simple genetics), their parents would have had to be white. The hen has some white and theres obviously some white going on in the other offspring (a few white tail feathers, some with more white than others), but they all still have color. I assumed it would have to be recessive.

But I know there are multiple genes that interact in white coloring so idk.

 

[ackie]

My gut reaction is that all their chicks would be white but I think it's more complicated than that.

 

[SebrightMix]

Yeah I don’t really know much about this

 

[ackie]

Yeah I don’t really know much about this

Thank you for speculating with me though!

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I know there is a lot going on with white genes, and since my birds are mixed, I dont actually know where to start.

white birds
Snowflake, cockrell:
View attachment 2429135View attachment 2429136View attachment 2429134
mostly white with off-white areas on back and sides. there is one streak of black in his longest tail feather that is less than 50% of the feather

Moonflower, pullet:
View attachment 2429155
(white in background)
I apparently dont have real pictures of her, but same general mix. I can get some if they're needed.


probable parents
one of these hens- spangled American game.. one might be mixed American game and Asil
View attachment 2429130

this rooster- half gamehen, half orpington. I dont know what color the orpington was but the gamehen was light brown View attachment 2429131

they could be a mix of the above birds or a mix of their offspring, I dont know

other general flock pics in attachments in case it helps

my main question is: what would happen if I breed the two white chickens together?

(is it ethical to breed them together if they have the same parents?)

(is snowflakes messed up toe genetic?)

but I also want to learn the genetics in general

I have an understanding of basic genetics already, but none as far as chickens are concerned

Are you still wondering about this?

 

[ackie]

Are you still wondering about this?

it doesn't keep me up at night or anything but yeah I'd still love to know

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

A lot of your birds are mottled (the white spots in the spangled pattern). But I’m not sure about the almost all white ones. They look like dominant white, but none of the parents have dominant white. Are there no other possible parents?

The other alternatives I can think of are recessive white and silver. They can’t be silver since their parents aren’t silver. Recessive white doesn’t seem possible either, because recessive white would make a solid white chicken with no black at all.

I suppose they could also be extremely mottled, but I feel like they would have more other colors coming through.

Yes, you can breed the siblings together. Was he hatched with his toe like that? I can’t really see it clearly in the picture(s), but it appears his back toe is twisted?

As for what you’d get when breeding them, if they’re any of the possibilities I listed above they will have more white offspring.

If you want to know their genetics for sure, you could breed one to a purebred chicken that doesn’t have the mottling gene, silver, dominant white, or recessive white (basically a chicken that doesn’t have any white on it). I say “purebred” because recessive white and mottling are recessive, so a mixed breed could have the genes for it and not show it.
If you did do this crossing, the resulting chicks would probably reveal the genetics of the white parent.

 

[ackie]

here are ridiculously way too many pics of snowflake with a couple of Moonflower. apparently I play favorites

Spoiler: pics

meant to post this hours ago but it wouldnt load

Yes, you can breed the siblings together. Was he hatched with his toe like that? I can’t really see it clearly in the picture(s), but it appears his back toe is twisted?

yeah his nail is sideways. I've been told it could be from having him on mesh as a chick. I dont know for sure that he didnt hatch that way because it took me way too long to notice it.