RL
2 posts
Feb 10, 2005
12:38 PM
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Hi Frank
I have an old Sparks cock who is homozygous spread, how long and what is the best way to end the spread thing with his off spring (I have been using non spread hens on him)
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bluebar
36 posts
Feb 10, 2005
2:07 PM
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If he is actually homozygous spread then everyone of his young will be spread, i.e., they will be blacks (in the blue series birds); spread ash (in the ash series birds); brown selfs (in the brown series birds)
If he's heterozygous spread, then only 50% of his offspring, both cock and hens, will be spreads.
Frank Mosca
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MCCORMICKLOFTS
387 posts
Feb 10, 2005
3:00 PM
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RL, you have already started step one, that being mating this cock to non-spread hens. Should the offspring (all of which will be spread based on you believing he is homozygous for spread) perform to the standards you hope for, those will be het for spread on when mated to non-spreads will produce the ratio of spreads and non-spreads as Frank stated above. If the best of those end up being non-spreads, then you have successfully eliminated the spread factor, assuming of course you choose to move away from the spread birds. I would have to mention though that just selecting them for whether or not they are spread might be a wrong path to travel in regards to performance. Always breed from the best, regardless of color. But if you have your heart set on removing it from the gene pool, you will have to concentrate heavily on the very best in the steps and hope that the eventual outcome will still perform to the quality you hope for, and be void of spread.
Brian.
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RL
3 posts
Feb 11, 2005
7:52 AM
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Thanks Scott, I thought this would be a long and winding road, I only have a few hens for this cock and they are all blue checks and balcks I call it "Curse Of The Black Pearl" LOL and also unfortunatly they produce rec. reds so there is more testing, any hoot thanks again
RL
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