Barred and Cuckoo Pekins and Cochins
Barring is a dominant sex linked gene.
It dilutes both Eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments, or, both red and black. This gene also displays a "double dose" effect on males. Two copies (homozygous) will make the male lighter in colour, as the pigments are being diluted "twice". Females can only carry one copy of the gene (sex linked) so they do not display as much dilution.
Barred males carrying two copies will have bigger white bars, and males carrying one copy will appear more like females, and have larger black bars.
Barred and Cuckoo both refer to the barring gene B. Barred is not the same as same as Cuckoo, they are phenotypically different.
Barred = Barring gene and slow feathering gene(K).
Cuckoo = Barring gene and fast feathering gene(k+).
The barring gene intermittently stops pigment from being produced, and so in combination with the slow feathering gene allows for a much cleaner and clearer barring across the feathers.
The ideal genotype for a barred Pekin or Cochin would then be the same genotype as the Plymouth Rock. (Genotype from Cote(1976) Self Black Plumage)
EE Pg/pg+ Ml/ml+ w/w and slow feathering K
I would imagine, as with blue, the quality of barring would depend on the quality of black being diluted, certainly something to consider when out-crossing with this gene.
It dilutes both Eumelanin and pheomelanin pigments, or, both red and black. This gene also displays a "double dose" effect on males. Two copies (homozygous) will make the male lighter in colour, as the pigments are being diluted "twice". Females can only carry one copy of the gene (sex linked) so they do not display as much dilution.
Barred males carrying two copies will have bigger white bars, and males carrying one copy will appear more like females, and have larger black bars.
Barred and Cuckoo both refer to the barring gene B. Barred is not the same as same as Cuckoo, they are phenotypically different.
Barred = Barring gene and slow feathering gene(K).
Cuckoo = Barring gene and fast feathering gene(k+).
The barring gene intermittently stops pigment from being produced, and so in combination with the slow feathering gene allows for a much cleaner and clearer barring across the feathers.
The ideal genotype for a barred Pekin or Cochin would then be the same genotype as the Plymouth Rock. (Genotype from Cote(1976) Self Black Plumage)
EE Pg/pg+ Ml/ml+ w/w and slow feathering K
I would imagine, as with blue, the quality of barring would depend on the quality of black being diluted, certainly something to consider when out-crossing with this gene.