The Moonshiner's Leghorns

[KF0002]

Tbh a lot of chicken genotypes are only theorized, not fully understood.
Only a few "solid buff" birds were ever genotyped, and they never even genotyped the "token buff" breeds, Orpingtons and Cochins.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/buff-genetics.73980/post-795855
Certainly, it's possible there is more than one means to an end and not all buff birds have all the genes we think are in buff. And maybe some have more.
And it could be the same with red, another complex color.
And solid black can be created in so many ways it's also difficult to grasp.
For example, this bird (and photo) by Blake BellView attachment 4083894
His parents are a buff Leghorn and Black Minorca. This shouldn't happen. Perhaps black Minorca are Birchen and not extended black based?
Honestly, considering Nicalandia said people think they might be Birchen based (or at least some might me I believe that is the answer to our mystery here
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/genetics-question-pure-breed-x-hybrid.745611/post-10492936

Blake Bell's birds are fantastc. I follow him on Fb and he is an excellent breeder. That is amazing that a Black-tailed red was created from a buff leghorn and black minorca. You're right though, I have hatched chicks from pairs that I couldn't explain and didn't make sense to the point of me questioning marking the eggs and chicks correctly (which I am very meticulous about). Genetics can do some crazy stuff and it's pretty fascinating. The black-tailed reds are really gorgeous birds. Yet another chicken goal for sure!

 

[KF0002]

I waited for (2) years for my family members to finally get pigeons so we could have another breed on the farm (I can't exactly make demands when I'm at school, not home to take care of them, though I do take care of the birds as often as I can.
That said, I am the voice of reason trying to keep my mom and brother from overcrowding everything with more chicken and duck breeds.
If only they wanted to overcrowd everything with more pigeon breeds, and turkeys (except BBwhites which is of course what they got.)
We've already tried all the chicken breeds and I know what they're all like. I've already decided on what I like best and they need to do the same XD

But I've only tried one pigeon breed (and my mother has another. Pigeon breeds have so much potential that I haven't tapped!

That is exactly what happened when I got turkeys. My husband wanted turkeys to butcher, and here I am collecting this variety and that variety because they are pretty until he finally told me "no more." Because he is the one who has to take care of all these critters while I finish school. I highly recommend Painted turkeys. Mine are laying eggs like crazy and I am itching to hatch them all, but I have to take it easy this year. It seems like a shame to eat their eggs but the voice of reason has spoken! lol

 

[KF0002]

It's worth noting that the chick down color isn't necessarily indicative of adult color.
Your chicks are split for wheaten and duckwing so they are going to have duckwing-looking down as chicks but I would expect to also see dark brown/Ginger which tends to darken the backs a lot
View attachment 4083893
On a duckwing base these genes tend to cause this Ginger red pattern more than a full on Columbian (quail color is Duckwing, Columbian, and Melanotic so I think Columbian works on Duckwing in similar was as Ginger.)

This is extremely interesting for sure. My chicks don't look at all like I expected them to look. I was expecting little red chicks with a semi wheaten, semi duckwing pattern, like The Moonshiner described, but not full on duckwing looking. I have another clutch of them due to hatch on Sunday also so I'm curious to see if any of them look different than the first set. I will try to get some pictures of the older chicks as soon as I can. They will be 2 weeks old on Sunday. I work the next few nights.

 

[Amer]

That is exactly what happened when I got turkeys. My husband wanted turkeys to butcher, and here I am collecting this variety and that variety because they are pretty until he finally told me "no more." Because he is the one who has to take care of all these critters while I finish school. I highly recommend Painted turkeys. Mine are laying eggs like crazy and I am itching to hatch them all, but I have to take it easy this year. It seems like a shame to eat their eggs but the voice of reason has spoken! lol

Nah
Painted are beautiful but there are MANY varieties I find more beautiful.
I love patterns.
I used to be into the mottled and the buff, but I need more color, more pattern. I have discovered just how dazzling turkeys can be on the turkey group. I am going to collect way too many turkey varieties and play with them.
Fall Fire (or anything that makes reddish hens with lots of pattern) are probably my favorite but I do like the highly specific pencilled red palms they look so pleasing.
Fall fire hens have that razzle dazzle orange and white with the shiny black spots.
Blue and red patterns are pretty too.
I have a soft spot for all the shiny bronze bands on turkeys, I don't know if there's a word for them, but it's the part of the feather at the tail base, you know, the tail coverts? I wish I could cover a whole turkey with all those bronze bands.
Eastern Wild turkeys have one of my favorite colors of all turkeys too. I love how reddish the hens are. Much brighter and richer than standard bronze, without the white breast bars.

 

[Amer]

This is extremely interesting for sure. My chicks don't look at all like I expected them to look. I was expecting little red chicks with a semi wheaten, semi duckwing pattern, like The Moonshiner described, but not full on duckwing looking. I have another clutch of them due to hatch on Sunday also so I'm curious to see if any of them look different than the first set. I will try to get some pictures of the older chicks as soon as I can. They will be 2 weeks old on Sunday. I work the next few nights.

Well, I did write that before realizing just how duckwing your chicks look. It's all very confusing.

 

[KF0002]

Well, I did write that before realizing just how duckwing your chicks look. It's all very confusing.

Tell me about it. When they hatched looking like Brown Leghorns I got so confused. The math ain't mathin. But it's fun and I will be good with however they turn out. I can work with them whether they are red duckwing like they are looking, or black-tailed reds like I am hoping. lol

 

[KF0002]

Nah
Painted are beautiful but there are MANY varieties I find more beautiful.
I love patterns.
I used to be into the mottled and the buff, but I need more color, more pattern. I have discovered just how dazzling turkeys can be on the turkey group. I am going to collect way too many turkey varieties and play with them.
Fall Fire (or anything that makes reddish hens with lots of pattern) are probably my favorite but I do like the highly specific pencilled red palms they look so pleasing.
Fall fire hens have that razzle dazzle orange and white with the shiny black spots.
Blue and red patterns are pretty too.
I have a soft spot for all the shiny bronze bands on turkeys, I don't know if there's a word for them, but it's the part of the feather at the tail base, you know, the tail coverts? I wish I could cover a whole turkey with all those bronze bands.
Eastern Wild turkeys have one of my favorite colors of all turkeys too. I love how reddish the hens are. Much brighter and richer than standard bronze, without the white breast bars.

I agree, Eastern Wild Turkeys are probably some of the prettiest turkeys hands down. And I have a Penciled Fall Fire hen that is just gorgeous. I would love to be able to collect every variety, but I can't so I have to just go with whichever variety I'm most interested in at the time. For now, it's the Painted.

As far as chickens, one breed that my husband and I can agree on is Leghorns. White Leghorns have always been his favorite layers, and I finally convinced him to get some different varieties. We have had several different chicken breeds over the years and he just isn't into the big heavy fluffy breeds like the Marans, Orphingtons, Wyandottes, etc. He likes chickens built like Games, leaner looking with tighter feathering and long streaming tails. Leghorns fit that bill pretty well and they are great layers.

 

[NagemTX]

I waited for (2) years for my family members to finally get pigeons so we could have another breed on the farm (I can't exactly make demands when I'm at school, not home to take care of them, though I do take care of the birds as often as I can.
That said, I am the voice of reason trying to keep my mom and brother from overcrowding everything with more chicken and duck breeds.
If only they wanted to overcrowd everything with more pigeon breeds, and turkeys (except BBwhites which is of course what they got.)
We've already tried all the chicken breeds and I know what they're all like. I've already decided on what I like best and they need to do the same XD

But I've only tried one pigeon breed (and my mother has another. Pigeon breeds have so much potential that I haven't tapped!

I'm at the trying things I think. I know I want blue and green eggs for sure and crested and the long tails. Problem is I don't like white so much but I'm trying it out this year with Schijndelaar. If they work out I'll probably sell most my others and stick to them.

 

[Amer]

Moony, do you like turkeys?

 

[The Moonshiner]

Moony, do you like turkeys?

Ya except that they eat too much.
I raised Royal Palms when I first joined BYC