Melanotic

Melanotic is a simple mutation in chickens that extended the overall black plumage color in chickens. Specifically, it changes the pheomelanin (red areas) on the saddle and hackle feathers to black eumelanin. (2). Some patterning often comes through with melanotic alone, though it depends on the underlying base pattern (1)(2).

The gene does not extend the black pigment to the skin, beak, or shanks, which will often stay the typical white color. It also doesn't change much of the overall chick down, so chicks with only Melanotic will typically stay a dark patterned color, and then feather out completely or nearly completely black (2).

It is believed to be very close to the same locus as the pea comb gene, meaning that it is very rare to get a bird that has both a pea comb and melanotic, but it can be done. (3).

The APA currently recognizes black in the following breeds: Ameraucana, American Game, Australorp, d'Anver, Booted, Cochin, Cornish, Crevecoeur, Cubalaya, Dutch, Hamburg, Japanese, Java, Jersey Giant, LaFleche, Langshan, Malay, Modern Game, Old English Game, Orpington, Plymouth Rock, Rosecomb, Shamo, Sumatra, and Wyandotte (typically Partridge based). (4)

It is worth noting that is it possible to get black in these breeds without using melanotic, and not all of these bird with melanotic will appear solid, show quality black. There are also varieties outside of black that use the melanotic gene.

Breeding with Melanotic:

Melanotic x Melanotic = 100% Melanotic

Melanotic x Wildtype = 100% Red Leakage

Melanotic x Red Leakage = 50% Melanotic, 50% Red Leakage

Red Leakage x Red Leakage = 25% Melanotic, 50% Red Leakage, 25% Wildtype

Red Leakage x Wildtype = 50% Red Leakage, 50% Wildtype