Understanding Light Columbia color genetics

[RoostersAreAwesome]

With my current set-up, I have a Light Brahma Rooster over all my hens. Last season I hatched about 8 chicks which all still hold onto the Light Columbia pattern very closely, with the exception of one chick that looks like she got a bit of the dark brahma's pattern just a bit (Currently don't have pictures but ill be happy to share when i do). Some of the hens used were: Buff Brahma, Dark Brahma, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Golden laced Wyandotte.

Is this Light Columbia a very dominant pattern or color? I would like to understand it for future breeding. I suppose I was hopping for some golds to come through in the chicks, or maybe even some lacing, but I'm very new to color & pattern genetics and don't have a clue what to expect.

I just hatched 14 chicks in the past two weeks, and the hens now were: White Leghorn, Patridge looking Easter Egger, Blue/ gold Easter Egger, Gold laced Wyandotte, Welsummer, Buff and Dark Brahma.

Any idea what to expect? I do enjoy black and white colors, but i think i would prefer more... colors, if you know what i mean, lol. But this has been fun and interesting. I cant wait to see what these grow into.

I've been trying to understand the light columbian pattern for a while now. From what I've seen of similar crosses, and from my knowledge of basic genetics, here are my guesses for what you might get:
-white leghorn mixes will have dominant white, so will be mostly white with some random black feathers
-partridge EE and welsummer mixes will probably have light red leakage
-if you used a red hen, the males would have dark red leakage and the females would be silver(?)
-if you used a black hen, all chicks would be black with silver leakage

Could you post a picture of the blue/gold EE?

So I have a few pictures to share of the offspring I got last year.

Keeping in mind that my Rooster at the time was a Light Brahma.

Starting with what I confidently believe is a Light and Dark Brahma Cross:
View attachment 1707707
This guy is now a part of the flock and I would like to use him in the future for my own stock.

Here is what I believe is a Wyandotte x Light Brahma. (Not sure if silver laced or gold)
View attachment 1707708
You can see a couple of her shoulder feathers display a little bit of lacing. I find that so interesting. And some of her back feathers have some speckling or dots, or whatever correct term or is. She also lacks full on leg feathers, and only has a few on her legs compared to a Brahma.

Some of the other girls just look like they only held onto the Columbian pattern but with some added darkening on their back or end of the neck.
View attachment 1707709

I still want to learn how pattern genetics work?

The light and dark mix doesn't show much patterning because the male version of the dark (silver pencilled) coloration is silver duckwing, and silver can't really show up on silver (light columbian).
Wyandotte lacing, especially the lacing of hatchery quality wyandottes, isn't very strong, so often doesn't show up in crosses.

 

[rascal66]

I've been trying to understand the light columbian pattern for a while now. From what I've seen of similar crosses, and from my knowledge of basic genetics, here are my guesses for what you might get:
-white leghorn mixes will have dominant white, so will be mostly white with some random black feathers
-partridge EE and welsummer mixes will probably have light red leakage
-if you used a red hen, the males would have dark red leakage and the females would be silver(?)
-if you used a black hen, all chicks would be black with silver leakage

Could you post a picture of the blue/gold EE?

The light and dark mix doesn't show much patterning because the male version of the dark (silver pencilled) coloration is silver duckwing, and silver can't really show up on silver (light columbian).
Wyandotte lacing, especially the lacing of hatchery quality wyandottes, isn't very strong, so often doesn't show up in crosses.

I think you're very on point- my 3 current Leghorn chicks are either pure white or mostly white with a little random black somewhere.
If the red leakage is true, then I certainly can't wait to see! Right now they still mostly seem black/white or grayish.
Can't say I have a red hen at the moment...
I had a black hen last year but I guess her eggs never hatched, so no black chicks yet.

Here is my blue gold EE or blue bronze or whatever she looks like-

Let me know If you want more pics, you can also see my profile pic

Thanks so much for the reply ❤
Im still playing with the genes a bunch and I'll be getting much more chicks. I'll be sure to show them off as they grow and such.

do you have any projects?

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

I think you're very on point- my 3 current Leghorn chicks are either pure white or mostly white with a little random black somewhere.
If the red leakage is true, then I certainly can't wait to see! Right now they still mostly seem black/white or grayish.
Can't say I have a red hen at the moment...
I had a black hen last year but I guess her eggs never hatched, so no black chicks yet.

Here is my blue gold EE or blue bronze or whatever she looks like-
View attachment 1720368
Let me know If you want more pics, you can also see my profile pic

Thanks so much for the reply ❤
Im still playing with the genes a bunch and I'll be getting much more chicks. I'll be sure to show them off as they grow and such.

do you have any projects?

Since your hen is mostly blue, I'd think that her chicks would be blue or black with silver and gold leakage... but EEs have such mixed ancestry that I'm not sure.

Yes, though I'm not making much progress with it. I like to experiment with different patterns like lacing, barring, mottling, etc. Here's the thread I use to record where I currently am with it, but it's very slow going: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/perfect-bantam-breeding-project.1259418/

 

[rascal66]

Since your hen is mostly blue, I'd think that her chicks would be blue or black with silver and gold leakage... but EEs have such mixed ancestry that I'm not sure.

Yes, though I'm not making much progress with it. I like to experiment with different patterns like lacing, barring, mottling, etc. Here's the thread I use to record where I currently am with it, but it's very slow going: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/perfect-bantam-breeding-project.1259418/

That is so neat!!

I'd love to produce my own line of Blue colored EEs... Even though its not really your standard breed and just mutts really, but I love them.

I really like the mottling pattern, and would love to see what you make! Of course, breeding and waiting for offspring to grow up is definitely a bit of a process.

I have a feeling I have 3 of her off spring right now, and the first one seems mostly silver, but I guess young chicks don't always accurately portray their true colors until they are fully grown.

I'll snap another EE chick I made. Its a yellowish white chick with the beard and a little eye liner, and along the back seems like a blueish down almost. But still mostly creamish down.

 

[rascal66]

By the way, here is the light x dark brahma girl
Maybe not the greatest pic but she has really dark down and some patterns on her back. I think also maybe a hint of brown here and there, since my dark Brahma seems to have a bit as well.

 

[rascal66]

Here are last weeks chicks, the EEs i was mentioning. Maybeee some blue? Kinda doubt and unsure.

 

[RoostersAreAwesome]

That is so neat!!

I'd love to produce my own line of Blue colored EEs... Even though its not really your standard breed and just mutts really, but I love them.

I really like the mottling pattern, and would love to see what you make! Of course, breeding and waiting for offspring to grow up is definitely a bit of a process.

I have a feeling I have 3 of her off spring right now, and the first one seems mostly silver, but I guess young chicks don't always accurately portray their true colors until they are fully grown.

I'll snap another EE chick I made. Its a yellowish white chick with the beard and a little eye liner, and along the back seems like a blueish down almost. But still mostly creamish down.
View attachment 1722956

I actually prefer mutts over purebreds, due to their variety in color and looks. My wish is to have a flock of colorful mixed bantams, but I know that's not going to happen anytime soon.

By the way, here is the light x dark brahma girl
Maybe not the greatest pic but she has really dark down and some patterns on her back. I think also maybe a hint of brown here and there, since my dark Brahma seems to have a bit as well.
View attachment 1722982

Interesting, I would've thought that she'd have more patterning. Then again, I believe pencilling is recessive, though it can still show up a little bit even in first generation crosses.

Here are last weeks chicks, the EEs i was mentioning. Maybeee some blue? Kinda doubt and unsure.
View attachment 1723219 View attachment 1723220 View attachment 1723225 View attachment 1723222

I'm not sure. Maybe those aren't her chicks?

 

[rascal66]

I actually prefer mutts over purebreds, due to their variety in color and looks. My wish is to have a flock of colorful mixed bantams, but I know that's not going to happen anytime soon.

Interesting, I would've thought that she'd have more patterning. Then again, I believe pencilling is recessive, though it can still show up a little bit even in first generation crosses.

I'm not sure. Maybe those aren't her chicks?

EEs are may favorite, and since they are practically mutts, they're the best. So colorful and I looooove those beards and muffs. My favorite..... I wish you best on your project, they are looking so nice and colorful! Maybe I'll be able to start my true project in another year or two.


I'm still very new to genetics, and I really didn't know what to expect. Its not a lot of penciling or patterns there, but there is definitely some. My dark x light roo on the other hand looks basically like a light aside from the saddle feathers having much more... I'm not sure of the term. Lacing?

And it really beats me! I only have two EEs with beards and these chicks have beards. One EE is of course the blue-ish hen, and the other is the more common partridge looking EE.