Newest Addition!

 Let me introduce you to Bowie, named after David Bowie. He is a Chamois Appenzeller Spitzhauben, a rare breed that originated in Switzerland. While this breed is not recognized by the APA with no American standards (which, honestly, is not something I worry about), it is an established breed in Europe that almost went extinct after World War II. This breed is considered Threatened by the Livestock Conservancy and is still extremely uncommon here in the US. This breed is most well-known for its striking black and white plumage, earning it the description of “dalmatian of the poultry world” and it is the most common coloration bred in the states. This coloration is called silver-spangled and, out of all the accepted coloration of the breed, is the “easiest” to find. The other accepted colorations include gold-spangled, which is a gold-based color with black spots; blue, which looks more grey; black; and Chamois, which is what my boy is. This coloration is caused by Dominant White genetics, which effects the presentation of black pigmentation and makes them appear white. It can also cause the gold pigmentation to appear lighter and more buff.

So, what does this mean? I will be getting an assortment of chicks from the only three varieties that can really be found in America; silver-spangled, chamois, and gold spangled. Depending on Bowie’s Dominant White genetics (heterozygous vs. homozygous) will determine the percentage color outcome of the chicks. These genetics are also sex linked, so the females will be a different color from the males. So, if he’s heterozygous and I breed him to silver-spangled hens, I will get roughly 25% gold-spangled females, 25% chamois females, 25% silver spangled males, and 25% Silver-spangled males with Dominant White, which basically looks like a “dirty” white due to extremely pale (known as ghost) spangling. Of course, mated to a chamois hen, all the offspring would be chamois. And mated to a gold-spangled hen, there would be a 50-50 between chamois and gold-spangled. Maybe one day I’ll be able to get my hands on some of the other colors. I can dream, can’t I? Lol