Barred and Cuckoo.
For the beginner there is very little difference between the two, and they are used interchangeably with regards to Pekins.
Barred and Cuckoo are not the same thing however, they are similar and involve the same gene though.
Both involve the dominant barring gene (B).
If you want to be technical, then there are probably no "barred" Pekins or Cochin bantams in the world(or very, very few), as a true barred bird would require other genes to be present (slow feathering) which are not there yet.
to put it most simply.
Barred = barring gene + slow feathering gene. (Plymouth Rocks fit in here)
Cuckoo = barring gene + fast feathering gene. (Pekins fit in here)
The difference between the two is shown when you look at a bird like the Barred Plymouth Rock, the slow feathering gene allows a much clearer, cleaner and crisper barring. The black and white is much more distinct then in Pekins, who do not have the slow feathering gene.
The Barring gene is used in a lot of sex linked breedings, as it allows you to predict the sex of the chicks at day 1 after hatch. If you cross a black male to a barred female, all the males from that cross will come out barred(Cuckoo), all the females will be black. This is again because males can only pass a copy of barring onto their male offspring, and not the females in this breeding
i did breed Cuckoo Pekins for a little while. In fact, they were self blue(Lavender), cuckoo and frizzled. But didnt keep them up because i didnt have the space.
Here are two cockerels i hatched last year. I culled both of these youngsters last year, but it is a great pattern and very good seller here.
Barred and Cuckoo are not the same thing however, they are similar and involve the same gene though.
Both involve the dominant barring gene (B).
If you want to be technical, then there are probably no "barred" Pekins or Cochin bantams in the world(or very, very few), as a true barred bird would require other genes to be present (slow feathering) which are not there yet.
to put it most simply.
Barred = barring gene + slow feathering gene. (Plymouth Rocks fit in here)
Cuckoo = barring gene + fast feathering gene. (Pekins fit in here)
The difference between the two is shown when you look at a bird like the Barred Plymouth Rock, the slow feathering gene allows a much clearer, cleaner and crisper barring. The black and white is much more distinct then in Pekins, who do not have the slow feathering gene.
The Barring gene is used in a lot of sex linked breedings, as it allows you to predict the sex of the chicks at day 1 after hatch. If you cross a black male to a barred female, all the males from that cross will come out barred(Cuckoo), all the females will be black. This is again because males can only pass a copy of barring onto their male offspring, and not the females in this breeding
i did breed Cuckoo Pekins for a little while. In fact, they were self blue(Lavender), cuckoo and frizzled. But didnt keep them up because i didnt have the space.
Here are two cockerels i hatched last year. I culled both of these youngsters last year, but it is a great pattern and very good seller here.
Cuckoo self blue frizzle
Cuckoo self blue frizzle
Cuckoo Self Blue Frizzle, with poorly marked Birchen Frizzle
Cuckoo Self Blue Frizzle Cockerels
Self Blue cuckoo hen
