White Pekins And Cochin bantams
White is created by one of 3 ways generally, Silver, Dominant White(i will refer to it by DW), Recessive White (RW).
White pekins or cochin bantams here are generally made on Recessive white genes on a extended black base (EE).
There are some that are built on the Dominant White gene (I), but most are Recessive White gene(c).
A question i have often asked is what makes the best or cleanest white?
The answer would seem to be a bird that is homozygous for both the dominant and recessive genes, on a silver base. (EE I/I c/c). You could even add in gold diluters to get an even better white, like Dilute, but i dont know of any such birds being bred at the moment. Perhaps even adding mottling in would help.
Silver is "against" red or gold. DW is great for cleaning up black, but not red. And RW hides both main colour pigments.
DW appears to inhibit the production of black pigment, but has little effect on red pigment, in heterozygous form.
RW is better at hiding both, and is said to effect the cells producing the pigments, making it better at hiding both colours when it is pure.
Recessive White (RW)
Some thoughts on RW, a lot of people incorrectly state that if you cross another colour to a RW bird, you will get black offspring.
Crossing birds to a RW may give you black in some cases, but it does not guarantee it. Crossing a non RW to a RW will give you whatever colour the RW is hiding. It may be any colour.
In pure form(c/c) RW is more effective at preventing red and black, but it also somewhat leaky, allowing small flecks of colour to come through.
In Heterozygous form, or a single copy, recessive white does seem to lighten colours, and Carefoot thought this was the reason white sports came from Partridge Wyandotte breedings in the UK. I think a more likely explanation is Dilute, and the lack of red enhancers like Mahogany, giving you a lighter colour on UK partridge birds.
Dominant White (DW)
DW does give some potential interest colour breeding options, as you can build the red colour on top of a bird that is DW. If you have a look at Pyle Leghorns and Pyle Wyandottes you can see this effect.
DW is said to be epistatic to red and black, epistasis means that one or more genes are meant to be present in order for DW to express.
Due to the fact that DW prevents black colours better, it is wise if building a DW line to build it using birds that are either from a black line originally, or, show no red whatsoever.
Typically other genes are used to try and produce a clean bird on DW, genes like barring are essential in aiding DW lines.
White pekins or cochin bantams here are generally made on Recessive white genes on a extended black base (EE).
There are some that are built on the Dominant White gene (I), but most are Recessive White gene(c).
A question i have often asked is what makes the best or cleanest white?
The answer would seem to be a bird that is homozygous for both the dominant and recessive genes, on a silver base. (EE I/I c/c). You could even add in gold diluters to get an even better white, like Dilute, but i dont know of any such birds being bred at the moment. Perhaps even adding mottling in would help.
Silver is "against" red or gold. DW is great for cleaning up black, but not red. And RW hides both main colour pigments.
DW appears to inhibit the production of black pigment, but has little effect on red pigment, in heterozygous form.
RW is better at hiding both, and is said to effect the cells producing the pigments, making it better at hiding both colours when it is pure.
Recessive White (RW)
Some thoughts on RW, a lot of people incorrectly state that if you cross another colour to a RW bird, you will get black offspring.
Crossing birds to a RW may give you black in some cases, but it does not guarantee it. Crossing a non RW to a RW will give you whatever colour the RW is hiding. It may be any colour.
In pure form(c/c) RW is more effective at preventing red and black, but it also somewhat leaky, allowing small flecks of colour to come through.
In Heterozygous form, or a single copy, recessive white does seem to lighten colours, and Carefoot thought this was the reason white sports came from Partridge Wyandotte breedings in the UK. I think a more likely explanation is Dilute, and the lack of red enhancers like Mahogany, giving you a lighter colour on UK partridge birds.
Dominant White (DW)
DW does give some potential interest colour breeding options, as you can build the red colour on top of a bird that is DW. If you have a look at Pyle Leghorns and Pyle Wyandottes you can see this effect.
DW is said to be epistatic to red and black, epistasis means that one or more genes are meant to be present in order for DW to express.
Due to the fact that DW prevents black colours better, it is wise if building a DW line to build it using birds that are either from a black line originally, or, show no red whatsoever.
Typically other genes are used to try and produce a clean bird on DW, genes like barring are essential in aiding DW lines.