Dark Brahma Chick color gene mutation???

[bantamluv]

Hi there, about 5 weeks ago I had some purebred Dark Brahma chicks hatch out. One small, normally colored dark brown hen hatched out exactly 5 weeks ago. 5 weeks from tomorrow the second chick hatched out, although he was purely white... Could this be some kind of gene mutation that went on inside the egg? Now he is older and he has a nice little comb coming in BUT he has black, a lot too, coming in in his neck and tail feathers. He has black in his wings too. So- a dark brahma with light brahma coloring????? How would this happen? I will get pictures of his mom, dad, sister, and him later. Although I have heard of cross-breeding in hatcheries, I doubt that is the cause. Please reply if you have an suggestions!

 

[QueenMisha]

Dark Brahmas and Light Brahmas are completely different genetic configurations and way too many genes for a "random mutation" to cause it, even if that wasn't a one in a million thing. You were sent the wrong egg.

 

[bantamluv]

No, I didn't get them from a hatchery, I bred them myself. Sorry for the miscommunication.

 

[Ridgerunner]

That’s a hard one to comment on because we are shooting in the dark. We have no idea of the genetic background of your Dark Brahmas. You know your chickens a lot better than we do so I’ll put out three possible causes, none of which are mutation.

1) You hatched a different egg
2) There was some cross-breeding going on.
3) Probably the most likely, your Dark Brahmas are not all that pure. It is pretty easy to breed out dominant genes, a couple of generations and they are gone if you select against them. Recessive genes are another story. They can hide in the background for a few generations, especially if you don’t hatch a lot of chicks each generation. That can happen to championship show chickens. Generally they have to breed true for five generations to be considered “pure” and even then you occasionally get a surprise.

 

[junebuggena]

Pictures of both the parents and chicks?

 

[bantamluv]

Yes, let me get them.

 

[bantamluv]

his dad
his dad and mom his sister.

him

 

[Gray Farms]

Had the hen ever been exposed to any other roosters in the last few months?

 

[junebuggena]

The hen is mixed. Does not have the silver base color of a Dark Brahma, and she's clean legged. She has a gold base color. This is why you got that odd chick.

 

[QueenMisha]

No, I didn't get them from a hatchery, I bred them myself. Sorry for the miscommunication.

Sorry, I misread, I thought you had purchased the eggs.

I agree with @junebuggena, the hen is mixed.