Black To White Experiment

[MysteryChicken]

How old are those chicks in the pictures above? Just storing some more info away for future reference.

1 week old.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Thanks for explaining!

I wonder if the chickens need some specific combination of genes to show the feathers like that, or if maybe it works for most chickens but there might be some specific genes that can mess it up.

(I'm thinking of how male saddle feathers are useful for sexing in most chicken breeds, but hen-feathered males do not grow those feathers, and silkies have a feather texture that makes them hard to see. Or how red comb & wattles are a good sign of males, but black skin can cover the comb color or a beard can prevent the wattles being visible. So some things works on most chickens but not all of them. There might be some genes that change the wing shape of some chicks one direction or the other, that could explain why your wing sexing method works sometimes but not others.)

You're welcome.

It's a good theory.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Getting updates today, before the chicks are moved outside tomorrow.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Decided I'll get the updates of the chicks tomorrow.

 

[Party_Chicken]

Hi. I noticed this thread and it reminded me of my jersey giant mix cocoa. She was attacked by a fox and lost some feathers. When they came back they had white tips/splotches. She was solid black before. The white is very subtle.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Hi. I noticed this thread and it reminded me of my jersey giant mix cocoa. She was attacked by a fox and lost some feathers. When they came back they had white tips/splotches. She was solid black before. The white is very subtle.

They could be, just due because of damage/stress. Pretty sure they'd go away with her molt.

 

[Party_Chicken]

They could be, just due because of damage/stress. Pretty sure they'd go away with her molt.

Ok! I am not really good at genetics and thought this project was really cool! I will check back after her molt and see what happens!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Here they are at 5 weeks.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Took pictures of the boys. The 3, that I'll have to choose from.

Which one is your favorite?

#1. Smarty Pants's, mini me.

#2. Bearded Dino

#3. Crele(He wouldn't cooperate, so I had to hold him)

 

[Sally PB]

I like the color on #2, but that's just me.