Spring means eggs! And everybody knows what’s in an egg – just yolk and white, right?

   Q. I put a Wheaten Old English Bantam hen with a White cock and she hatched 8 chicks, 5 Blue and 3 Black! Explain!

   A. The recessive White cock masked Bl//t and E//E.

   Q. What is the genetics of squirrel tail?

   A. I haven’t seen any report on that. Japanese bantam fanciers may know the answer?

   Q. I bought an “oaten” peahen at a sale (not cheap.  What is the genetics of this color? Can I cross her with blue?

   A. Oaten is the combination effect of black-shouldered and “cameo” (sex-linked recessive). Blue is a good first cross.

   Q. Is anything known about genetics of pigeons?

   A. Quite a lot! See the book The Pigeon by Wendell M. Levi.

   Q. What is an “arrow” pedigree?

   A. This modern method does not use rectangular lines but an arrow from each parent, and no repetition of ancestors.

   Q. My walnut comb chicks have tiny feathers across the top middle of the comb. Is this a mutation?

   A. No, it is an amazing interaction effect of the P and R genes.

   Q. What do you think about brother x sister breeding?

   A. This extreme sort of inbreeding can be informative.

   Q. Do you use trap-nests?

   A. No. For pedigree assurance I use individual cooping. Trap-nests are for polygamous-breeding pens.

   Q. I want to produce blue hens that lay blue eggs. Should I cross Blue Andalusian cock on Ameraucana hens?

   A. Yes, and other crosses will also do the job too.

   Q. What is the genetics of quail coloration in bantams?

   A. It is the combination effect of ginger with recessive black.

   Q. Is barred color pattern in Muscovy ducks inherited like barred in chickens?

   A. Not at all – it is recessive and not sex-linked.