Walnut comb variations

Cloverr39

Crowing
Jan 27, 2022
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Latvia
I've noticed my silkies sometimes come out with improper combs, and I'm wondering if that says something about the genetics or genotype of the parents (and the odd combs themselves, of course.)
I don't currently have any pictures of actual birds as examples, so I drew a quick sketch (apologies for how messy it looks), and I was hoping someone could explain the why behind these variations in the comb type. All I know is that the walnut comb is made up of the rose comb and pea comb, and the single comb is recessive to the walnut. That's about as far as my knowledge on comb genetics goes... 😅
How does the inheritance of those little "horns" work and how do I breed them out?
Screenshot_20250429_184347_ibisPaint X.jpg

1. Pullet walnut comb (smooth) but with little horns in the end.
2. Rooster walnut comb with little "horns."
3. Like a taller row of bumps in the middle and smaller rows of bumps on either side. Looks like it would be a single comb on small chicks, but then develops those side rows with age.

I appreciate any help on this. If I come across an interesting comb in my birds, I'll add a picture later.
 
I've heard Walnut is rosexpea but I've also heard the Silkie comb is a modified rose comb.
Number three looks like a pea comb to me which makes me think the bird lacks the rose comb gene but still has the pea gene.
This would make sense because if walnut is PPRR and pea combs are PPrr, his parents could be PPRr and still look walnut combed but produce offspring without the rose combed gene.
The drawings are very cute!
 
The third one actually looks like a PeaxSingle to me though, a Pingle comb if you will, which makes me think at least one of his parents could be PpRr to produce a bird heterozygous for pea and single and lacking the rose comb.
 
I found some older pictures of birds with interesting combs that I've had over the years. Any insight on what might’ve been going on?
First two are of the same hen. The third picture is of a cockerel, whose comb sort of caved in in the middle. Odd little guy. Fourth looks to have something mixed with a single comb? Fifth looks the most like what I drew in drawing 3 – one slightly more distinct row in the middle with bumps on the sides, though it's a bit hard to see in the picture.
 

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The third one actually looks like a PeaxSingle to me though, a Pingle comb if you will, which makes me think at least one of his parents could be PpRr to produce a bird heterozygous for pea and single and lacking the rose comb.
Makes sense. I've had full-on single combed ones too, so I assume the father and at least one other hen carries it.
I just hate how there's no real way to know who's carrying what when all the parents' combs look like regular walnut combs.

As for the little horns at the end of the walnut combs, does that say anything about their comb genetics or is it just some weird variation of the walnut comb itself that is undesirable in breeds with walnut combs?
 
I found some older pictures of birds with interesting combs that I've had over the years. Any insight on what might’ve been going on?
First two are of the same hen. The third picture is of a cockerel, whose comb sort of caved in in the middle. Odd little guy. Fourth looks to have something mixed with a single comb? Fifth looks the most like what I drew in drawing 3 – one slightly more distinct row in the middle with bumps on the sides, though it's a bit hard to see in the picture.
3rd looks like a hollow rose comb. I don't know what genetics cause the hollow defect but it is common. The 4th looks like it could be a slightly off balance single or pingle. The 5th looks pingle.
Makes sense. I've had full-on single combed ones too, so I assume the father and at least one other hen carries it.
I just hate how there's no real way to know who's carrying what when all the parents' combs look like regular walnut combs.

As for the little horns at the end of the walnut combs, does that say anything about their comb genetics or is it just some weird variation of the walnut comb itself that is undesirable in breeds with walnut combs?
I don't know what gene causes the little horns but I wonder if it might be the same gene that causes the three spiked rose comb that Watermaals have.
 

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