Colour Genetics Guide to Breeding Chickens
The Blue gene is an incomplete dominant gene which means that if a bird has inherited one Blue gene from one of it’s parents then it could be Blue but if it inherits two Blue genes one from each parent then it will be Splash.
Blue bred to Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue bred to Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black (male and female)
Blue bred to Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash (male and female)
Black bred to Black = 100% Black (male and female)
Splash bred to Splash = 100% Splash (male and female)
Splash bred to Black = 100% Blue (male and female)
Lavender is a diluting gene as long as the bird has inherited two Lavender genes, therefore many different colours can be created using this gene. All black colouring will become Lavender and any red pigment will dilute to a straw colour.
Lavender bred to lavender = 100% lavender (male and female)
Lavender bred to split black = 50% lavender and 50% split black (male and female)
Lavender bred to non-split black = 100% split black (male and female)
Black split Lavender x Black split Lavender = 25% Lavender/ 50% Black split Lavender/ 25% Black
Split black bred to non-split black = 50% split black and 50% non-split black (male and female)
Chocolate Gene
The Chocolate gene is a sex linked recessive mutant gene, so the females cannot hide the gene. If they possess the chocolate gene, they will be Chocolate. Males, however can be carriers and require two copies to be pure Chocolate.
Pure Chocolate cockerel bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives 100% Chocolates (male and female).
Pure Chocolate cockerel bred to Pure Black hen = 50% black male (splits) with chocolate gene and 50% chocolate hens.
Pure Black cockerel bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives ALL Black Offspring, but the Males (split blacks) with Chocolate gene, Hens will be pure black.
Split Black cockerel (carrying chocolate gene) bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives 50% Pure Chocolates (males and females) and 25% Black split males (carrying Choc gene) 25% Pure Black females.
Split Black cockerel (carrying Chocolate gene) bred to Black hen = Gives 25% Pure black cockerels, 25% Black split males (unable to tell which males have the gene), 25% Pure black females, 25% Pure Chocolate females.
The table Below give a visual picture of the above.
Blue bred to Blue = 50% Blue, 25% Black, 25% Splash
Blue bred to Black = 50% Blue, 50% Black (male and female)
Blue bred to Splash = 50% Blue, 50% Splash (male and female)
Black bred to Black = 100% Black (male and female)
Splash bred to Splash = 100% Splash (male and female)
Splash bred to Black = 100% Blue (male and female)
Lavender is a diluting gene as long as the bird has inherited two Lavender genes, therefore many different colours can be created using this gene. All black colouring will become Lavender and any red pigment will dilute to a straw colour.
Lavender bred to lavender = 100% lavender (male and female)
Lavender bred to split black = 50% lavender and 50% split black (male and female)
Lavender bred to non-split black = 100% split black (male and female)
Black split Lavender x Black split Lavender = 25% Lavender/ 50% Black split Lavender/ 25% Black
Split black bred to non-split black = 50% split black and 50% non-split black (male and female)
Chocolate Gene
The Chocolate gene is a sex linked recessive mutant gene, so the females cannot hide the gene. If they possess the chocolate gene, they will be Chocolate. Males, however can be carriers and require two copies to be pure Chocolate.
Pure Chocolate cockerel bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives 100% Chocolates (male and female).
Pure Chocolate cockerel bred to Pure Black hen = 50% black male (splits) with chocolate gene and 50% chocolate hens.
Pure Black cockerel bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives ALL Black Offspring, but the Males (split blacks) with Chocolate gene, Hens will be pure black.
Split Black cockerel (carrying chocolate gene) bred to Pure Chocolate hen = Gives 50% Pure Chocolates (males and females) and 25% Black split males (carrying Choc gene) 25% Pure Black females.
Split Black cockerel (carrying Chocolate gene) bred to Black hen = Gives 25% Pure black cockerels, 25% Black split males (unable to tell which males have the gene), 25% Pure black females, 25% Pure Chocolate females.
The table Below give a visual picture of the above.
