Tail less birds

[Guest]

No the tardy feathering gene is a different gene than the sex linked K gene. Sex linked traits are used to sex day old chicks. I have had birds that do not have tail feathers until they are over two months old. I want the slower feather growth in my birds. I am working on a barred rhode island red. Slower feather growth means better bars.  White bars on a red back ground is a challenge and I need all the genetic help I can get.

Tim

[Guest]

Okay, I found my Sellers genetics info.  

Mike - can you provide the details on this book?  I would like to get a copy.  I work in the (human) genetics field and would like to learn more about my new friends, the chickens!

Thanks,
Danielle in Utah

[Guest]

Try this site.

http://web.archive.org/web/20051207035940/marsa_sellers.tripod.com/geneticspages/page0.html

Tim

[Guest]

  Cool!  Thanks!

[Mike Gilbert]

Tim,
The Sellers site lists four possibilities at the K locus, but I can\'t find anything about a \"tardy\" feathering gene.   What is the symbol, and where can we read about it?   Thanks.

Mike

[Guest]

Tim,
The Sellers site lists four possibilities at the K locus, but I can\'t find anything about a \"tardy\" feathering gene.   What is the symbol, and where can we read about it?   Thanks.

Mike

Mike check out the Maran Genetics page at http://marans-club.club.fr/genetiqa.htm#genetiqa

It is a little hard to follow sometimes due to the translation from French, but it does discuss and give the symbols for the slow feathering alleles at K.  Hope that is helpful.

Danielle in Utah (using Liz in Utah\'s computer  )

[Mike Gilbert]

Danielle In Utah:   Thanks for pointing me in the right direction for the t allele.    That was interesting reading, and was new ground to plow for me.     I came away with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of plumage development in the early stages of a chicks growth.

On the other hand, the section on shank and skin color is poorly written and innaccurate.   For example, it says that birds that are Bl/Bl (splash) or wheaten must have clear colored legs.   As Ameraucana breeders we know that to be untrue.    It is true that the wheaten gene slows down the development of melanin pigment in the dermis, but it does eventually develop at anywhere from two to six weeks of age.

[Guest]

Mike,

Jones and Hutt carried out a study and was published in 1946 concerning the tardy feathing gene. Warren also carried out studies in the 30\'s. The tardy gene is only expressed in birds that are rapid feathering.

Marans do not carry the dermal melanin gene like Ameraucana. Marans should have nice clean shanks and legs. I have never seen any studies on the effects of homozygous blue on dermal melanin but it stands to reason that two blue genes could inhibit epidermal melanin. Birds that are extended black (self black) normally have black shanks and feet. The blue genes do inhibit black pigment production so the legs would be clean because of the inhibition of eumelanin.

Tim

[Mike Gilbert]

Tim,
Nevertheless, melanin in the dermis shows through the transluscent epidermis.   We have splash birds with slate legs, but they are not as dark as a black or a blue, as there is no melanin in the epidermis.  

[QUADCH]

The bird looked sparse in feather, but I never handled her to get a closer look. Here are some current photos. The tail feathers are coming in and wing feathers are normal.

[Jean]

Pretty sure that\'s a him....

Jean

[QUADCH]

Yes, your right, I meant him.  The other cockerel is short tailed too. The pullet is normal feathered. A real cutie.