RIR breed genetics - issues with "silkie" like feathers

[noplacebo]

I was wondering if anyone else has heard of RIRs having the occasional "silkie" like feathers which don't repel the rain? I came across it when researching the genetics of the breed and recognised it in one of my older pullets.



The pullet has issues in the rain and always gets filthy during mating when it's wet. It's far from a desirable trait. Is it likely to be an issue if I use her to breed? Her colour is lovely and dark but it would be a shame to have all of the next generation (or the grandchildren) with issues in the wet.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

I dont really see any silkie looking feathers on her. It would seem that by crossing to a different breed might cure it because it would be bringing in outside blood that wouldnt be related and also since it would be a hardfeathered rooster you wouldnt have to worry about it showing up anyway. Unless he is related to them by the father or something, lol.

 

[blueoval1]

You probably know this but your rooster is not a Rhode Island Red.
I just wanted you to know cause it sounded like you wanted to start breeding for quality,

 

[flyingmonkeypoop]

Quote:
Lol, I think I read in one of their other posts that he is an isa brown which is a sexlink.

 

[noplacebo]

yeah, he's not a RIR, but he is a RIR cross. I'm interested in quality, but not for show or breed purity, just for utility as a backyard bird. My hens love running around in the rain and I have trouble stopping them, and she always ends up soaked!

that's good news if crossing her with new genetics will clear it up. I believe i read that the hardfeather gene is dominant and silkie nearly full recessive? hope it's true.

-c

 

[tadkerson]

Can you get a close picture of what you are talking about.

Tim

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Hard/soft feather and silkie feathering are separate genes.

Silkie is recessive, meaning both parents must provide a copy for the offspring to be silkied. That said, I thinkn it is somewhat leaky as I have had F1 crosses that had some amount silkie feathers--not a lot, and usually on the sides and closer to the tail (but not the fluff area).

Hard feathered is incompletely dominant, meaning that Ha/Ha is a hard feathered bird, ha/ha is a soft feathered bird and Ha/ha is in between.

There are also a number of other genes (mostly recessive) that affect feather quality in a negative manner.