Turkey Color Genetic Projects
The first step in producing a unique color combination in Turkeys is to have a vision of just what you would like your outcome to be, (what you would like to produce). Much in the same way an artist sets at his canvas and visions the Image he wants to produce.
Ever since I became involved with Heritage Turkeys I have been intrigued by the Dominate Slate, (AKA) “Blue”, Diluting genes. They are located on the third Color Locus and are represented as (D). Since this is a Dominate gene a bird carrying only (1) one gene will partially exhibit the “Slate” color.
The Dominate Slate gene can be combined with any of the “Base Colors”. If it is combined with the Bronze Base color it will produce b+b+Dd (single gene present) since the single gene does not dilute the bronze color completely there will be several random bronze or reddish feathers showing on a Slate colored bird. This would produce the phenotype as a Bronze Slate, Blue Bronze or a Red Slate. The Red gene is not involved here the red color is actually only the bronze color expressing through the slate. If both Dominate Slate genes are present b+b+DD (two genes present) the diluting will be much more complete. A light slate colored body with a pale reddish tan tail and slate colored band ending in a cream or white tip. Again the Red gene is not involved here the red color is actually only the bronze color expressing through the slate. This is usually referred to as a Lilac.
I am "NOT" an expert when it comes to the color genetics in Turkeys however the Color genetics has intrigued me and I have been learning as I go with the help of long time breeders and studying color genetics on the internet. I have also had a lot of help from Kevin Porter who I consider the Guru of Turkey color genetics and his Yahoo group "Turkey Color Genetics".
As such I am attempting to create different color birds from some of my standard colors some of these I hope to be Unique. Other combinations will produce birds that have been produced before but are not commonly available in most flocks.
Ever since I became involved with Heritage Turkeys I have been intrigued by the Dominate Slate, (AKA) “Blue”, Diluting genes. They are located on the third Color Locus and are represented as (D). Since this is a Dominate gene a bird carrying only (1) one gene will partially exhibit the “Slate” color.
The Dominate Slate gene can be combined with any of the “Base Colors”. If it is combined with the Bronze Base color it will produce b+b+Dd (single gene present) since the single gene does not dilute the bronze color completely there will be several random bronze or reddish feathers showing on a Slate colored bird. This would produce the phenotype as a Bronze Slate, Blue Bronze or a Red Slate. The Red gene is not involved here the red color is actually only the bronze color expressing through the slate. If both Dominate Slate genes are present b+b+DD (two genes present) the diluting will be much more complete. A light slate colored body with a pale reddish tan tail and slate colored band ending in a cream or white tip. Again the Red gene is not involved here the red color is actually only the bronze color expressing through the slate. This is usually referred to as a Lilac.
I am "NOT" an expert when it comes to the color genetics in Turkeys however the Color genetics has intrigued me and I have been learning as I go with the help of long time breeders and studying color genetics on the internet. I have also had a lot of help from Kevin Porter who I consider the Guru of Turkey color genetics and his Yahoo group "Turkey Color Genetics".
As such I am attempting to create different color birds from some of my standard colors some of these I hope to be Unique. Other combinations will produce birds that have been produced before but are not commonly available in most flocks.
Some of the Projects I am currently working on are:
- Blue and Slate Blue Sweetgrass
- Chocolate Sweetgrass
- Blue Red Bronze
- Blue Palm
- Red Palm
- Chocolate Palm
- And My Pink Hen Project
Each of these projects are in various stages for breeding this year and some are closer to completion. However the proof of the breeding will be what I can produce breeding the offspings and if they will in fact breed true or at least predictable in future generations.