What hen?

General discussion about pigeon genetics
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king
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2024 1:20 am

What hen?

Post by king »

Hi I've a Yellow Cock(full spread) what colour hen would be best to breed more self yellows?
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AdamArcher
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Joined: Fri Sep 11, 2020 1:52 pm
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: What hen?

Post by AdamArcher »

There are a few things to unpack here.

1st - the "yellow" you're likely referring to is commonly known as "recessive yellow", more accurately it is homozygous recessive red and homozygous dilute. It MAY also have the spread gene, but very often doesn't. "Spread yellow" isn't a thing.

Now, you're in luck given that this bird is a cock, because dilute is a sex linked gene. As he is a homozygous dilute cock, he will always give a copy of this gene to all of his children.

To breed more yellows like him, pair him to a recessive red hen. This will give you yellow daughters and rec red sons. Pair him to one of the yellow daughters and you will begin producing red cocks too.

If you don't have access to a rec red hen you can pair him to almost anything, then pair him back to his daughter. You'll begin to breed yellows, it'll just be slower and you'll breed a lot of other colours along the way.
king
Posts: 3
Joined: Thu Oct 17, 2024 1:20 am

Re: What hen?

Post by king »

Thanks Adam.
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