Which Characteristics hen/rooster

[ReykjaTavi]

I was just curious about which characteristics come from the rooster, and which come from the hen when the chickens breed.

Thanks!

Amber

 

[MsBentleyboy]

I think I understand what you are asking. If you breed animals, it's like people, you never know what characteristics will be inherited. If you are asking about specific breeds of hens and roosters you may want to post that information. People may have bred the two breeds together and can help you with your question.

 

[chicknmania]

Well, the hen determines the sex, unlike us, where the guy determines the sex. If you have mixed breed chicks I would say you can go back to basic genetics and say whichever parent is darker, that's the color the chick is probably going to be; sometimes there are throwbacks though which cause other colors or patterns. And as far as behaviours or egg color or anything like that, I would guess it's just the luck of the draw....

 

[ReykjaTavi]

I don't have mixed breeds, I was just curious. I've seen on posts that the color of the chick is from the rooster....now I see that the sex is from the hen....it was more of a curious question. Just wondering if there were any tried and true characteristics that always shined through. = )

Amber

 

[chicknmania]

Well, that's interesting about the color. But, I kinda question it, to a point. Because, all our chicks in this latest batch are mutts, as far as I know. Now, there are five black ones (Dazzle's the father, no doubt...or maybe BB?); one gray one (huh?), (we have no gray roos); one gray and white one (same thing, but mom is a Delaware, so, does the chick take after her?), and one beige/orange one; no doubt, her Silkie father is Tweety, she looks like him, and that's his color. But, we have two older chicks, I'm almost positive Tweetie is the father of both, cause they have his crest. The mother of one is a Delaware hen, and the chick looks like a Delaware, except for the crest. The mother of the other is a Silver Phoenix, and, again, he's silver-white like her, looks like her, except for his father's crest. And, come to think of it, our chicks before these generally combine both parent's colors, or there doesn't seem to be any logic to it, they have taken after one or the other. (Just throwing a wrench in the works, as far as this thread goes....

)

 

[ReykjaTavi]

It probably has something to do with Mendel and those darn peas. I vaugely remember the charts. = )

 

[chicknmania]

Quote:

In all fairness to the color theory, a lot of them do change color over time. It is interesting. I should be able to tell later who the father (s) are, and the mothers, too.