Real Genetics Puzzler for the Experts (New Pics post #25)

[speckledhen]

The three week old chick in the pictures below is a real shocker. Sire is my big Blue Orpington, Suede. Mother is my big flaming red Meg, a RIR/Buff Orp cross. Both came from the same source, who has had no barred birds, to my knowledge. This is barring, right? Just have to confirm what I'm seeing.( Julie? Love your input here!) SO, how did I get a barred chick from that cross? And before you say it, no Barred Rock rooster jumped into the Blue Orp pen with Meg. There would have been major bloodshed with Suede in charge. Meg had been living with Suede and his blue Orp ladies for several months. It's not even possible that an illicit mating took place. Love to hear your take on this one, experts.
It was the only brown egg amongst the blue eggs under my broody hen and is the only one with a single comb, so I know for certain the chick is Meg's. It even has a spot on its head like a BR, but my pens are separate and no Barred Rock had gotten out.

 

[Schultz]

Hmm, we were wondering the same about one of our JG/BO mix. S/he appears to have barring going on and we only own Jerseys and Buffs. I will be watching this thread close!

 

[MissPrissy]

You know Jared hatched out some chicks and got a naturally occuring barred gene and is now duplicating it with the intent to produce a flock. Wouldn't that be gorgeous!!

 

[Cuban Longtails]

Was he the one that used black and white orpingtons to get the barring to show? With Suede being blue, is it possible he carried the throwback gene? Maybe even Meg carries it, but I'm not up on the histories of the creation of the buff orpington lines.

 

[speckledhen]

Hmm, this is really interesting. I remember Buster's barred chick. Suede came from Julie's (BamaChicken) Blue Boy and one of the hens, dont know if it was blue, black or splash. Meg was from her big RIR rooster she used to have with those gorgeous exhibition size Buff Orpingtons.

 

[Schultz]

Could I show my Jersey Giant/Buff Orp cross pics. I am wondering if yours has the same feathers on it's chest area. I just don't want to disrupt the thread.

 

[speckledhen]

Sure, you can post a pic in the thread.

 

[Schultz]

Ok thanks

She's 3 weeks

 

[speckledhen]

Pretty little thing! You know, I don't recall precisely what Meg's baby's chest looks like. I'll have to check on that tomorrow because it's raining and getting dark here. She certainly is barred, isnt he/she?

 

[Schultz]

Yes VERY barred. I wonder if the cross with the buff has something to do with it since you are seeing the barring effect as well? And thank you for the compliment, she or he is our very special chick that almost didn't make it!