Rosecomb Colors

[CWhite67]

I just got a black cockerel and white rosecomb pullets, I'm just wondering what would be the outcome of crossing them? I know nothing of crossing colors, I only breed to the same color in my other breeds.

 

[nuthatched]

I believe the colors will be 50-50 of both colors, but I have a limp toe hold on genetics.

 

[pipdzipdnreadytogo]

I don't know if White Rosecombs are usually dominant or recessive White, but what you'll get will depend on which gene is making your White Rosecombs White.

If they are dominant White, you'll get mostly White offspring who may have spots of black on them. That coloration is commonly called Paint or Erminette.

It seems like recessive White is a much more common gene so I'd guess that's what they are, personally. If they are recessive White, assuming that it isn't hiding any other colors as the gene sometimes can and your pullets are genetically solid Black underneath the White coloring, you'll get all Black offspring and each will carry the recessive White gene without expressing it. Crossing these Black offspring back to White Rosecombs will make 50% White offspring and 50% Black offspring carrying recessive White. Crossing them back to Black instead will make all Black offspring, only half of which will carry recessive White with no indication of who is whom.

If your White pullets are hiding other colors, though, you could end up with Black offspring with those other colors 'leaking' through. The only way to know for sure is to hatch from them and find out.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I don't know if White Rosecombs are usually dominant or recessive White, but what you'll get will depend on which gene is making your White Rosecombs White.

If they are dominant White, you'll get mostly White offspring who may have spots of black on them. That coloration is commonly called Paint or Erminette.

It seems like recessive White is a much more common gene so I'd guess that's what they are, personally. If they are recessive White, assuming that it isn't hiding any other colors as the gene sometimes can and your pullets are genetically solid Black underneath the White coloring, you'll get all Black offspring and each will carry the recessive White gene without expressing it. Crossing these Black offspring back to White Rosecombs will make 50% White offspring and 50% Black offspring carrying recessive White. Crossing them back to Black instead will make all Black offspring, only half of which will carry recessive White with no indication of who is whom.

If your White pullets are hiding other colors, though, you could end up with Black offspring with those other colors 'leaking' through. The only way to know for sure is to hatch from them and find out.

X2