What genes do you suppose contribute to this color?

[BeardedLadyFarm]

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I agree. Does she have a peachy chest? Looks sort of like silver duckwing too. If you know her father, breed her back to him, and you will likely get a few like her.

very pretty!

 

[draye]

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I don't know what the color is called but I'd bet that she would produce babies that look good with this rooster:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=580147&p=6
See Post #52

I don't think I'll be keep him though, because he is a pecker: he pecks you when you pick him up.

 

[sjarvis00]

Wild type partrdge x black will produce some Brassy back like birds, add CO (columbian) and you will have quail. This is most likely what you have.

 

[nicalandia]

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Correct.. I believe she is a melanized hen..

 

[onthespot]

Sorry so slow to answer. Been busy today. I got a chance to google silver ameraucana hen, and she does look like that. The warmer color on her breast is sorta washed out, and her poofy butt feathers are nearly cream colored. I think she is melanized AND diluted at the same time, if that is possible. Thanks all for the input. I don't know ANYTHING about this area of genetics, and I really like this hen. Thanks all that shared their knowledge with me.

One more question. I have heard that columbian pattern is also called silver. Can someone tell me the abbreviation for the two different kinds of silver genes, so when someone writes in genetic shorthand, I'll know what silver they are talking about? Thanks.

 

[Illia]

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Melanized Silver Duckwing.

Looks like the duckwing was sneaking along recessively, hidden by the E/E in the barred birds. I'm guessing it's from the Easter Egger parents back there. Happens a lot.

 

[Kassaundra]

What does the term melanized mean?

 

[Illia]

Means the bird carries the Melanizer gene, it's a gene that usually either encourages extra black patterning/pigment in the feathers or with silvers, it often encourages a lighter color as seen on these two birds. A normal silver hen would look like this -

Salmony breast, darker gray body, different neck black/white ratio.

I don't think she's carrying dilute/cream however she may be carrying Columbian. A LOT of Easter Eggers carry it, and it also washes out the salmon breast. In fact she'd probably require Columbian to look that way, most melanizer on duckwings actually darkens them into what is known as "Brassy Back."



So to clarify to the OP - You have what I believe are a bunch of birds who are either E/E with barring or E/e+ with barring. The recessive, hiding e+ (duckwing) especially in hens is what allows, in a mating of two birds carrying that one gene, you to have a 25% chance of a duckwing again. You might also get some Creles too if you do this more often. If both parents were barred, what likely happened is that since your male is incomplete barred, half of the offspring will be sex-linked, thus, 25% of the offspring will be a normal duckwing instead of a crele. So, you got yourself there a nice little girl that normally is a found one in every 16 possible birds.


ETA -


To answer on Columbian vs Silver. Silver and Columbian are two different genes. What you're talking about is how most "Columbian" colored birds are in fact carrying the silver gene. Columbian color is basically black hackles and tail (or saddle in males) on a solid bird. If the bird is carrying gold genes, it's often called a Buff or Buff Columbian. Otherwise it is sometimes referred to as a Light, a Silver, or a Columbian.

 

[gumbii]

melanizer also makes a columbian patterned bird into a quail patterned bird... like illia said... it gives them extra black patterning usually on their heads and backs...

 

[onthespot]

Thanks Illia. About 1/16 is about how often these would show up this year. I think you nailed it. After reading all the above, I think I will just enjoy her for what she is, and not try to duplicate it. I will try to stick with the barreds for my olive eggers, for a variety of reasons. Thanks so much.