White Orpington Leg Color? Pic added

[JoanneNC]

I recently hatched some White Orpington eggs that I purchased online and of the 4 that hatched they all have yellow legs. Here is a picture at about 11 weeks. Upon some research it seems they should be white so I emailed the seller and this is how she responded.


"Yes we sometimes have the same with some our offspring. We'll get some with white, some with yellow and even some that seem grayish at first. When we had purchased our original breeding stock, they had white but we did notice as we got into further generations that some young chicks carried the yellow then as time went on, the yellow seemd to fade, which could be resessive genetics, as though there had been yellow legs further back generations. We work with our breeding stock and try to breed out the yellow, staying away from any that show any signs of yellow but it still appears at at times, even though both parents have white legs. We had asked the same question once we noticed the yellow and that was how it was explained to us. "



My question is, does this sound plausible? I do not have a clue as I have a lot to learn about genetics. Is the answer no as far as breeding these birds?

Thanks for any help you can be.

JoanneNC

 

[walkswithdog]

Even my hatchery buff orps have proper white/pink legs. Sounds like someone with something errant in the lines, floating you some .... floatable stuff.

But you should ask people who have had more than the few I have here. That breeder may even have started with mixes and it'd be darn hard to tell.

 

[JoanneNC]

Thanks, anyone else have an opinion on this? Just trying to find out what I have here.
I will try and get a picture posted.

 

[mikarod]

Sounds like somewhere along the way...a White Rock was used...either for production, type, etc.

 

[speckledhen]

That happened with the blues from a certain hatchery. Blue Orps are supposed to have slate legs. Some came out with yellowish legs, a result of using Blue Rocks, who do have yellow legs, to offset inbreeding from limited lines of blues. So, I think mikarod is probably right about the white rocks being used somewhere in the past.

 

[scgamecock]

I've got one white orpington hen from McMurray and she has white legs.

 

[JoanneNC]

mikarod & speckled hen, would they still be considered White Orpingtons and should the seller disclose the possibilities to the buyer?

Thanks for your help.
JoanneNC

 

[speckledhen]

Certainly, if you are buying from an individual, you should be told if they crossed in another breed for some reason because it is probably so recent, that there will be repercussions from the cross, like the yellow legs. Hatcheries are not going to tell you that, I dont believe. Remember that our modern breeds are usually the results of several crosses over time, but they should breed true. An example are the single combs on some Wyandottes and feather stubs showing up on clean legged breeds, etc.

 

[mikarod]

Quote:
They should...but several times...especially if the present breeder wasn't the original breeder, the person doesn't know there was a cross earlier on.

I would always tell someone what it was crossed with, but she might not have known there was a cross earlier in the line.

 

[JoanneNC]

I did buy from an individual, I just wish she would inform her customers that there was a chance some would have yellow legs. As I said, I had 4 hatch and they all have yellow legs. Would it be possible to breed out the yellow or would I need to start with new stock?

I am learning a lot.