Wondering just that. It's my understanding that the lethal gene that is responsible for 25% of japanese bantam chicks dying in the shell is the same gene responsible for short legs. Since the show standard calls for short legs it necessitates using breeders which carry one lethal (mutant) gene. I've read that long legged x long legged = 100% long legged and do not carry the lethal gene. Now I know that breeding for show requires the short legs but seems to me that the long legged ones with the wild allele are the more natural and therefore healthier state of the bird. Just for pet value I'm wondering if anyone has bred for long legs and if so, have they found that they do not get the high percent that die in the shell.
Western Canada Poultry Swap