Where did this come from? Chick genetics guess anyone?

[X2Farm]

So... when I pulled the hatchers out on Sunday, this little bitty was quite a suprise! It has the chick coloring of a Barred Rock or similar... but the only eggs I've hatched are Delawares, Speckled Sussex, Olive Eggers (EE hens over Welsummer Roo) and a couple Buff OrpxWelsummer. So where did this anomaly come from? I'm scratchin my head over here.. I didn't get a chance to see what egg he popped out of either, darnit! Oh, and I have NO barred/cuckoo birds other then a few chicks from eggs from elsewhere.

Would this be a "tell" of a barring gene issue with my Delawares?

Anyways, here he is! Cute lil booger, whatever he is!

 

[benjoycei]

bottom pic....major stink eye

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
Aint it, though?

He was not happy about being takin away from his broodermates for the photo op

 

[Higins00]

I'd say it's a olive egger. The Easter Eggers have lots of hidden colors in their genes.

 

[TeriyakiChicken]

This won't help at all but, AWWWWWWW! So cute!!!!!

 

[X2Farm]

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Ok.. that could make sense.

Though all of my EE hens are of a partridge style pattern, they could still carry the genetic code needed for barred offspring? Even over a Welsummer roo? I'm tryin to learn, is why Im askin

 

[X2Farm]

Ok, I'm still thinking something might be wonky with my Dels and thats where this strange chick came from. They're the only breed I have that has barring genes determining thier actual color pattern, not hidden back somewhere, vs the EE/OE's who all have more of a partridge pattern of varying colors. I'm so confused

It will be interesting to see how this chick grows out and what the coloring is underneath that chick down!
'

 

[Chris09]

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I think that you are right in thinking that it came from your Dels.

It's not uncommon for some Dels to have either Barred Rocks or Columbian Rocks in them.

Chris

 

[pdsavage]

Be interesting to see how it feathers out.

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
I think that you are right in thinking that it came from your Dels.

It's not uncommon for some Dels to have either Barred Rocks or Columbian Rocks in them.

Chris

These Dels are a mix of Sandhill/Meier/Holtman lines, so I guess anything is possible...

I guess I'll keep hatching and see if any other chick anomaly pops up. I guess a "sport" from a "sport" would be quite fitting!

Thanks for commenting Chris!