Duckwing

Duckwing, allele symbol e⁺, the wildtype.

Etymology

Duckwing was used as a name for the silver wildtype game. These had a blue sheen on their wingbands like in a mallard duck's wing. Since they were viewed from above when in the game pit, this blue sheen was the difference with green sheened crow wings (Birchen). The gaping difference between the groundcolored wing triangle of the duckwing and the black wing triangle of the crowwing was less apparent. Non silver duckwings do not have the blue sheen, but still (hobby) geneticists adopted the term Duckwing for the wildtype e-locus phenotype, and anatomically mean the wing triangle now. Silver duckwing (with white shouldered rooster) is also the most unique color based on e+. Partridge also applies to Brown based colors.

Degree of dominance

Recessive to Extended Black and Birchen . Incomplete dominant to Wheaten . Dominant to Brown .

Phenotypic effect

The wildtype.

chick down

Chipmunk striped with eyeline.

rooster

Black breasted red, with groundcolor wing triangle, shoulders, hackle and saddle with moderate black striping. Wheaten and Brown roosters are similar and share the duckwing/wing triangle feature.

hen

The hen typically has a salmon colored breast and stippling on the back. Hackle groundcolored with black pattern. Tail black

Heterozygosity

• Heterozygous duckwing/wheaten hens have a pale center to their salmon breast and more red expression on their wings.

Patterns

Duckwing is a good base for certain black enhanced columbian based colors:

• Quail

Solid black

Less suitable base for a solid black chicken.