albino in chickens (Pekin & Silkies in Particular)

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:10 am

kwinagi wrote:

2_Drakes wrote:

Thanks kwinagi do you think it died because its genetically weak? Also does that chick have a touch of silky in it? I ask only because of the head shape

mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm don't know what you are talking about, it was pure, and if it had silkie in it it would have BLACK skin

No sorry if it was 1/16 or 1/32 silkie to pekin and suffering from albinism it would NOT have black skin

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Wed Apr 10, 2013 7:20 am

kwinagi wrote:

oops forgot to answer the genetically weak question............its possible, they are very sensitive to light, and in late afternoon it may ahve received too much sunlight

Oh almost forgot your genetic answer.. any animal or human suffering from albinism is light sensitive I was referring to pre determined genetic failure of organs as a result of the albinism which is documented for other animals. I guess I answered my own question

PleasedPekins · **Joined:** Sat Mar 09, 2013 5:14 am **Posts:** 3

Thats a good point about the genetics 2 drakes I believe they refer to that as a lethal gene hence why the chick died and I have never seen an adult. Also on the point of silkie and black skin some colours like buff can be born with pale skin and go darker after 4-6 weeks so 2 drakes question was a valid one

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 1:29 pm

PleasedPekins wrote:

Thats a good point about the genetics 2 drakes I believe they refer to that as a lethal gene hence why the chick died and I have never seen an adult. Also on the point of silkie and black skin some colours like buff can be born with pale skin and go darker after 4-6 weeks so 2 drakes question was a valid one

Thanks PleasedPekins some lethal genes are heterozygous so 1 copy of the gene and a fowl with this 1 copy will not survive. The other is a dominant lethal genes so requires 2 copies for the fowl to die. I am not sure with the albino but its an interesting topic and worth mature discussion and thanks for that

Bill · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 5:54 pm

I think you have hit the nail on the head 2drakes well done and yes very interesting topic for all to read

kwinagi · **Joined:** Sat Dec 15, 2007 8:58 pm **Posts:** 236

The silkies black Fm gene is dominant, whilst the albino gene is recessive.

its quite simple genetics, so i do not see what the problem is with me pointing this out.

you will not get 1/16 etc expression of silkie blood, as all silkie characteristics EXCEPT FOR FEATHERING are dominant characteristics.

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Thu Apr 11, 2013 10:38 pm

kwinagi wrote:

The silkies black Fm gene is dominant, whilst the albino gene is recessive.

its quite simple genetics, so i do not see what the problem is with me pointing this out.

you will not get 1/16 etc expression of silkie blood, as all silkie characteristics EXCEPT FOR FEATHERING are dominant characteristics.

So your saying a pekin cross silky will produce 100% silky genetically? and a silky/pekin cross bred to a pekin will produce 100% silky genetically? there is no genetic loss from the silky or genetic markers or influence from the pekin with either of those 2 pairings ? not talking about appearance of course.

Bill · **Posted:** Fri Apr 12, 2013 8:32 am

kwinagi wrote:

The silkies black Fm gene is dominant, whilst the albino gene is recessive.

its quite simple genetics, so i do not see what the problem is with me pointing this out.

you will not get 1/16 etc expression of silkie blood, as all silkie characteristics EXCEPT FOR FEATHERING are do minatn characteristics.

I thought that picture looked familiar.

From your web site, {if a silkie feathered bird is mated to a non-silkie feathered bird (such as a pekin) the resultant offspring will have normal feathers} and { You can also see in this photo that the bird has a red face and pink/white feet. Sometimes you can get silkies with the proper feathers, but skin this colour. This is also a fault.}

So here you say black skin but on your web site you say not always????? so which is it??? well the answer is in the posts above and yes they can have pale skin and as pointed out some "pure" silkies are born with pale skin so you got it right on your web site but got it wrong in your post here.

As for your comment {you will not get 1/16 etc expression of silkie blood, as all silkie characteristics EXCEPT FOR FEATHERING are dominant characteristics} well that is completely wrong, of course you get mixed blood with a cross, you only need look at your web site and the "red comb silkie cross" to see that.

As you did not breed this "albino pekin" pictured but hatched it from an egg that came from north qld and that breeder self confesses to mixing all and sundry breeds together you cannot say its pure with 100% knowledge and I suspect nor can they.

You ask for help on your web site so I hope this has helped you understand the simple genetics

Bill

2_Drakes · **Posted:** Fri Apr 12, 2013 9:17 am

Good post Bill

I was going to mention the red combs after her reply as its proof of pekin genes always present with that cross even after 4 or 5 generation of breeding back to pure silkies it will always pop out and also proof its impossible that cross can ever be 100% silkie genes there is no logic to that. I still believe that albino chick has silkie blood all be it low %

Thanks for the pm I have passed it on to Admin.

Bill · **Posted:** Fri Apr 12, 2013 1:21 pm

Well now that I know where the egg came from I doubt it to, could have had 2, 3 or more other breeds in its ancestry.

Yes once the pekin genes are introduced to silkies or vice verser they are there to stay. I know of so call pure silkies purchased at auction from so call show lines that have produced bright red combed cockerels and pullets so not pure at all.

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