An Introduction to Color Forms of the Domestic Fowl
A Look at Color Varieties and How They Are Made
by
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The Genetics of Color and Pattern
The genes of color and pattern are a complex subject, and everything about this subject is not yet known. However, enough is known that we can deal with this subject in an intelligent manner. While many different papers have been written on the various genes in this group, and many people know, use or deal with one or two small sections of this information as regards the specific variety that is being raised, very few have been able to put this together in a cohesive whole and understand the structure of these varieties, and how their genes interact. As well, relatively few have been able to establish the structure upon which all the patterns or varieties are built.
There is a specific structure that can be followed to determine the genotype of a given variety. This goes as follows; e-allele, s-allele, and then the other additive genes that finish out the variety. That is also the way the genes are to be listed. When those gene notations are translated into a name, they are listed in reverse order. Here is an example. Let us say that we are talking about the silver phoenix, as standardized for color pattern in America. It’s gene notations are listed as e+/e+ S/S. When we translate this into the color variety name, we call it silver duckwing (S = silver and e+ = duckwing). We will deal with this in much greater detail in a later chapter, but for now, it lays the order of the gene notations, and the order of those genes when listed as a variety name.
To get started, we must first look at the pigment that produces colors seen in poultry. This pigment is melanin, and is divided into two forms; pheomelanin and eumelanin.
Eumelanin and Pheomelanin
These pigments are both forms of melanin. Eumelanin is the “black” pigment, while the pheomelanins are the “red” pigment. They produce different “colors” through enhancements or dilutions, producing all the shades known in poultry, in recombinant with these other genes. We will discuss both pheomelanin and eumelanin below.
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About the Book
In this introduction to the genetics of color and pattern in the domestic fowl you will find a direct and straightforward method that allows anyone to understand the process through which the varieties of the domestic fowl are made. Beginning with a discussion of pigment distribution, then adding the genes which modify the melanin pigments or add patterns to it, an understanding of the “layers” that are implicit in any variety is revealed. The focus in this volume is the many standard color varieties of poultry and the aim is helping any breeder to understand the workings of these many varieties. The language of this book is designed for beginners to be able to easily understand the material.
About the Author
Brian Reeder is a well known writer of poultry articles in the United States. Having worked with poultry from his youngest years, he began serious research on Domestic Fowl genetics in his teens, setting up major test matings in his early twenties. These matings and collected data span a decade. Now, nearing his fourth decade of life, he is focusing on writing based upon his experiences and gathered data with the Domestic Fowl.
In addition to Domestic Fowl, Mr. Reeder also studies the genetics of Domestic Crucian Carp (goldfish), Colubrid snakes, and many other domestic animals and plants. For more information on his interests and to access his many articles, please visit his website at http://www.longtailfowl.com or http://www.panopliageneticus.com