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How to Select Desirable Traits in Your Flock

Knowing the specific genetic makeup of your chickens allows you to breed with precision. You can check for a variety of desirable traits with on-farm DNA testing. 

Here is a list of our available DNA tests for chicken genetic traits:

DNA TestTrait
Blue Egg Gene Chicken DNA TestDetects the oocyan allele for blue eggshells.
The test distinguishes if the chick carries 0, 1, or 2 copies of the oocyan allele.
Recessive White Chicken DNA TestDetects the recessive white allele for plumage color. 
The test distinguishes if the chick carries 0, 1, or 2 copies of the recessive white allele.
Lavender Chicken DNA TestDetects the presence of Lavender (Lav*L) allele for plumage color.
Frizzle Chicken DNA TestDetects the Frizzle allele for curled feathers.
The test distinguishes if the chick carries 0, 1, or 2 copies of the frizzle allele.
ZeeWee I Bird DNA Sex TestAllows you to identify the sex of your chickens.

What do I  need to perform DNA testing?

How to start

For on-farm DNA testing, you need a DNA Test, gel electrophoresis supplies, plastic consumables, and basic equipment.  We’ve bundled everything for easy setup! 

Good news: equipment is a one-time purchase!

Keep testing

For refills, order the DNA Test (see table above), gel electrophoresis supplies, and plastic consumables (microtubes and filter tips) online. For convenience, the Learning Lab Companion Kit includes microtubes and gel electrophoresis materials to keep testing seamless.

If you need to screen for multiple traits, consult this blog post for strategies on optimizing your laboratory workflow.

How the DNA Tests Work 

All our chicken DNA Tests are user-friendly and designed for on-farm use. Every kit includes all necessary reagents and PCR tubes. The process is straightforward and involves three key steps:

  • Set up & Lysis: Extract the DNA from a dry blood spot or feather follicle with a simple 10 min incubation in DNA Extraction Buffer (provided).
  • PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): Amplify the target DNA using primers that produce specific band patterns based on the chick genotype.
  • Gel Electrophoresis: Separate the DNA fragments by size on a gel. Generally, the presence of the lower band indicates that the chick is carrying the trait of interest, while the upper bands represents the normal allele.

Process overview for our in-house testing. Get results in 3 hours, with less than 30 minutes of hands-on work for processing 8 samples!

Example of result using our Blue Egg Chicken DNA Test. The test distinguishes if the chick carries 0 (Normal), 1 (Het. Blue Egg), or 2 (Hom. Blue Egg) copies of the oocyan allele.

 

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