Dominant White

Dominant white is a gene that dilutes the black pigment on chickens, making it white (1). It works very similar to recessive white in that it restricts the eumelanin (black pigment) production in a bird (2). However unlike recessive white, it doesn't affect the pheomelanin (red pigment) production on the bird nearly as much (3). As a result, dominant white lets through much more pigment and coloring then recessive white does, and even in homozygous form. It was first proven in 1902 by Bateson and called I, for inhibitor.

Dominant white is used in a variety of different color patterns and varieties due to the versatility and ability to "cover up" only some of the black pigment. For example, the chamois variety in the Friesian and Polish is the dominant white gene on a pencilled bird (5). The white-laced-red variety seen in Wyandottes and Cornish is a combination of dominant white on a black-laced-red pattern, usually with red enhancing genes (5). It also is one of the only genes used to create the red pyle variety often seen in English Game, Modern Game, and other breeds. Ermine and paint (two separate names for the same genetic phenotype) is yet another variety that uses both melanin (black enhancement) and dominant white, and creates a mostly white bird "splashed" with spots of black across the body.

When paired with the silver gene, which restricts the pheomelanin (red pigment) in chickens, it acts nearly identical to recessive white. This combination is used often most Leghorns and some strains of bantam white Ameraucana. Most other white lines use recessive white to prevent the smuttiness and leakage that is common from this gene.

The APA recognizes white in either dominant or recessive form in the following breeds: Ameraucana, American Game, Araucana, Aseel, d'Anver, d'Uccle, Booted Bantam, Chantecler, Cochin, Cubalaya, Dorking, Cornish, Favorelles, Hamburg, Holland, Houdan, Japanese, Jersey Giant, Lamona, Langshan, Leghorn (typically dominant white), Malay, Marans, Minorca, Modern Game, Naked Neck, Old English, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Polish, Rhode Island White, Rosecomb, Serama, Silkie, Spanish, Sultan, Wyandotte and Yokohama. (5)

Breeding with Dominant White:

For more information about breeding with this kind of gene, including tips and tricks and a full explanation of how these results were calculated, please see here.

Dominant White is referred to here in homozygous form, and Exchequer is used in heterozygous form (see above), where wildtype is the plain bird.

Dominant White x Dominant White = 100% Dominant White

Dominant White x Wildtype = 100% Exchequer

Dominant White x Exchequer = 50% Dominant White, 50% Exchequer

Exchequer x Exchequer = 25% Dominant White, 50% Exchequer, 25% Wildtype

Exchequer x Wildtype = 50% Exchequer, 50% Wildtype