Mrs

[Lewis]

The breeder said if you pull black feathers out it will stop them growing?

 

To breed them you need to know what alleles the chickens have, hopefully start off with a pedigree (pure) and if you know which alleles are recessive and dominant, you can work out the ratio or % of the trait in the offspring

It gets confusing when they aren't pure and so have both a recessive allele and a dominant allele (heterozygous), which can mean you get mix of chicks, and when some traits are co-dominant

[Redwing]

Tell me about it Chris!

 

I recently asked someone what colour I would get from breedng a Lavender cockerel to a buff coloured hen, I get....wait for it......black offspring

 

Palmer07 found this website with a bit of info http://mangrovepoultry.com/ColourGenetics.aspx

 

If they only have one or two black feathers then yes you can pluck them, there is a chance they will re-grow black though and if they have quite a few black feathers it would be a bit cruel to do it so bear that in mind

[Falkor]

The breeder said if you pull black feathers out it will stop them growing?

 

To breed them you need to know what alleles the chickens have, hopefully start off with a pedigree (pure) and if you know which alleles are recessive and dominant, you can work out the ratio or % of the trait in the offspring

It gets confusing when they aren't pure and so have both a recessive allele and a dominant allele (heterozygous), which can mean you get mix of chicks, and when some traits are co-dominant

 

 

ooohh errrrrr get Smarty Pants over here!!! Just joking Lewis!

 

Hit. Nail. On. Head I was just trying to find my new book so I could type that out!

 

You need to know what you have to start with is of good type and colouring and what the dominant alleles are.

 

I have also read in a showing book that stray feathers can be pulled out in the hope that they will regrow with proper colouring but it did say that if there were more than a few not to bother. I am not sure I like the idea of plucking a live bird

[Lewis]

I got a bit carried away

 

A2 Biology ... they're obsessed with co-dominance and heterozygotes blah blah ...

We did do an example with chickens so I was happy

 

Just guessing, but the different coloured chicks could come from a heterozygous genotype (Bb) (recessive + dominant) and black is recessive (b), if both have the recessive allele there is a 25% chance (I think) of the recessive allele presenting (bb).

I'm waffiling again

[Falkor]

I'm waffiling again

 

but it sounded good!

 

I have no idea what you are talking about (**stamps foot and wishes she had paid more attention in biology!)

[ChrisEllis]

woah - i see i hit a gold mine here everyne is interested - to be honest - i havent a clue - im doing biology at the moment - A* student with an exam tomorrow and i havent a clue about alleles - hwo do i know aobut all that dont i need a lab and white cat for tht

 

great hearing everyones comments - keep em coming - im mising im a celebrity to read them but it sure is interesting

[Egluntyne]

I would urge you to get more experience in basic chicken keeping under your belt before you start breeding chickens.

[tom123]

Well im literally building thir shelter tomorrow, plus when it rains they go in the coop anyway.

 

Well I don't think that is enough for silkies or polish really but it's up to you.

 

 

I would urge you to get more experience in basic chicken keeping under your belt before you start breeding chickens.

 

I agree, read up on a few good books and only start breeding when you have the indoor space to do so and the time!

[TAJ]

Back to books - I like 'Storey's guide to raisinf chickens' it is American, but the best detail of any I have looked at - a new edition is due out Jan 2010 http://www.amazon.co.uk/Storeys-Guide-Raising-Chickens-Storey/dp/1603424695/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1259668694&sr=1-2 As well as the normal incubation/rearing it has a good 100+ pages just on rasing meat birds which you do not find in other books.

 

Tracy

[ChrisEllis]

OK i will get some books i sitll have months until i would breed anyway plus there is always someone at hand literally plus we have our neighbours who have over 15 years of experience so we run everything by them first and so far so good