Silkie genetics

[TJbfarms]

How do silkie genetics work? With the silkie feathers? Is it dominant or recessive? why does it sometimes come out when you breed birds that aren't at all silkies?

Sorry about all the questions. I just added silkies to me my "collection" of birds and I am always inquisitive.

 

[tadkerson]

Genetics 101

The silkie gene is recessive. It takes two recessive silkie genes to express the silkie trait. A male bird carries one recessive gene and does not have silkie feathers and a female carries one silkie gene and does not have silkie feathers. When you cross the two birds, each parent gives one of its silkie genes to an offspring. The offspring will have silkie feathers because it has two silkie genes. The probabilities are one chance in four of the parents having a silkie chick.

Crossing silkie to silkie will produce all silkie chicks.

Crossing silkie to non-silkie will produce non-silkie chicks. Each chick will carry one silkie gene (silkie gene carrier).

Crossing silkie to silkie gene carrier will produce some silkie and some non-silkie.

Tim

 

[TJbfarms]

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