Recessive Genes:

Recessive genes on the other hand can be quite frustrating and certainly more time consuming. An example of a recessive gene is Recessive Opal (A very different gene than Dominant Opal) or milky. Getting the color you want from any of these genes can try even the most patient. An example that I experienced was when I began working with milky (a soft pastel modifier). I had a black cock that was split for milky and a check hen that was also split milky. When mating this pair together... one should get 4 distinct genotypes ... 25% homozygous non-milky, 50% heterozygous milky (splits) and 25% milky. So you can see that in theory one needs to breed 4 to get 1. Well, it took me 2 years of breeding to get a milky youngster... mother nature isn't theory...she works at random!

When purchasing a recessive gene to work into your birds... one needs to start with 2 birds or if only 1 is available, wait an extra year.

Situation #1    Purchase 2 split birds. see above example

Situation #2    Purchase 1 recessive color bird and cross it to one into your loft... keep split youngsters and either breed them together or breed one back to your original purchase.

Situation #3    Purchase 1 recessive bird and 1 split... breed them together and 50% of the young should be the recessive color.

Patience is the key here!