Shank Color and Barred Plumage in Columbian-Colored Chickens

MANY females produced from crosses of barred columbian, (B S e), males and red, e, females develop a greenish shank coloration by the broiler age of 8 to 12 weeks after hatching. This greenish shank coloration, often designated as “willow,” may vary in incidence from 12 to 80% of the females at the broiler age. It is observed much less frequently in males. Apparently the greenish tone is due to melanic (black) pigment being deposited in the lower layers of the skin and scales. A similar greenish shank coloration is known to be produced by the wild type allele (id+) of the gene which inhibits dermal melanin production in the shanks. For a review of the effect of the Id gene the reader is referred to Hutt (1949). That the id+ is not involved in the results reported here is indicated from the following data. Sixteen Barred Plymouth Rock males …