Zebra Genetics

[MLaRue]

Who is our resident Zebra genetic expert?

I have a male that is LBBC/Reg CFW and a female that is LB/BC hen.

I know the answer seems obvious but will these two only produce more of themselves if they are not split to anything else?

[Nagdabit]

Sorry that one's a little out of my league. My experience is based primarily on results from our flock and while we also have a LB/BC hen we have not been able to breed her yet. I would think you should get a Black Cheek out of that somehow cause according to Roy Beckham (efinch) he gets his best quality Black Cheeks from breeding BC to BC split.

http://www.efinch.com/species/bczeb.htm

Also everything I've read concerning Lightback shows that it is a dominant mutation so breeding a LB to a LB should bring you more Lightbacks. Roy noted that even in instances where in male LB's are split to CFW, LB is the stronger gene.

http://www.efinch.com/species/lbzeb.htm

That being said I would guess that barring any other hidden splits, you'd get LB/BC. Absolutely no idea what sex would be prevalent. Whatever the case, they should be cool looking birds.

[MLaRue]

Thank you for the reply

I think about the genetics to hard and try mixing the theory of Gouldians in their genetics too...

Thanks for the links - I'll have to read up on the genetics for the LB. I love this color with the BC - so striking and subtle.

[L in Ontario]

I love this color with the BC - so striking and subtle.

Of course you know... we live for pictures!!

[MLaRue]

I love this color with the BC - so striking and subtle.

Of course you know... we live for pictures!!

I'm on it

[Nagdabit]

love this color with the BC - so striking and subtle.

I know exactly what you mean. When we bought our LB/BC hen at the spring show in Baltimore I was immediately stricken by her. Even in a cage full of BC's Crested's and other assorted birds, she stood out to me, with her bright white belly contrasting against her silvery gray coloring and her thicker than normal teardrop markings (BC split indicator). Planning on hooking her up with a CFW male that is split to Black Cheek. Not sure if the connection will be strong enough to produce full blown BC's or not but should get cool birds regardless.

[Birdman]

This is what you should get:
12.5 % B.Cheek CFW Females
12.5 % B.Cheek Lightback/CFW Males
12.5 % B.Cheek Lightback Females
12.5 % B.Cheek Lightback Males
12.5 % CFW/B.Cheek Females
12.5 % Lightback/B.Cheek Females
12.5 % Lightback/B.Cheek Males
12.5 % Lightback/B.Cheek CFW Males