The Official Forum of the Ameraucana Breeders Club > Breeding

Phenotype

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greeneggsandham:
Exactly what is the dark spot supposed to signify?  I hatched out a few chicks last year and now quite a few more this year, and I've yet to see a dark spot.  I sometimes see a more yellow area, but not a dark spot.  Two of the birds I grew out last year won BV and RV at a show.  Not bad looking birds at all, although the blue female could have used more color in the tail I thought.  She looked very similar to the one posted in the photo section.

greeneggsandham:
Does anyone know what the dark spot is supposed to bring to the bird?

Mike Gilbert:

I believe it signifies a reservoir of eumelanin pigment, or the genetic ability to produce eumelanin.   This is the pigment that makes the black color in the feathers.   It is needed for the tail and wings of wheaten females. 

John:
I believe Mike is right.  I've noticed that a buff (also wheaten based) chick with the dark stripe/spot on it's head will end up with some black feathers.

greeneggsandham:
Thanks Mike, John.  Does this apply to males also?  Mine do not seem to have suffered from lack of color.  Hackles are pretty clean on my blue and not bad on my wheaten.  Do you think it might have anything to do with the black the males sometimes have in their hackles?

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