Coturnix Corner UK
Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.

Genetics of Colour Mutation in Coturnix Quail

Go down

Genetics of Colour Mutation in Coturnix Quail Empty Genetics of Colour Mutation in Coturnix Quail

Post by Suz Fri Dec 28, 2007 9:02 pm

Genetics of Colour Mutation in Coturnix Quail (Keeping Quail 4th Edition by Katie Thear)

Pigments called melanins determine the plumage colour and markings. Depending on the genetic structure, these pigments arepresent in variousdilutions and ratios. Some of the genes are dominant and will therefore appear more frequently in crossings. Others are recessive and will tendto be masked by the dominant factors, but appearing in small numbers. Others still, are incompletely dominant with the appearance of their factors depending on the particular crosses.

Some crosses are associated with lethal conditions so, if going for breeding, it is as well to be aware of these and cross with the normal type, rather than with each other. The following are found in Japanese Coturnix quail:

Black at hatch (Bh)

This is dominant over other colours but a double dose where two Bh birds are crossed can have lethal consequences with a proportion of eggs failing to hatch.

Cinnamon (Cin)

This is a recessive gene producing ginger plumage.

Extended Brown (E)

This is incompletely dominant over the normal type. Birds are uniformly brown above and below.

Imperfect albinism (al)

This is recessive. Two doses produce albino, pink-eyedand white feathered chicks.

Redhead (erh)

This is recessive and where it manifests, produce birds that are predominantly white with irregular black and rust plumage. The male's head is rust coloured.

Silver (B)

This is incompletely dominant. It is associatedwith slow growth and slow sexual maturity when two of thesame are crossed.

White breasted (wb)

This isa recessive gene. Where it appears it is produces birds with a white-feathered breast, neck and face. both sexes are the same.

Yellow (Y)

This is a dominant gene that produces golden birds. If two of the same are crossed, there is a lethal factor that produces fatalities of 25%. Crossing gold with a brown is safer, producing mainly gold and some brown in the ratio of 2:1.


There are also feather structure mutations associated with Japanese quail:

Defective feathering (Df)

This is dominant giving short, sparse feathers.

Porcupine (pc)

Recessive producing abnormal furled feathers on the back.

Rough textured (rt)

Recessive producing feathers rough to the touch.

Ruffle (rf)

Recessive producing soft barbs to some of the feathers.

Short barb (sb)

Recessive where ends of the back feathers are short and appear broken.



(Ref: Quail Genetics Resource Centre. University of British columbia)
Suz
Suz
Admin

Female
Number of posts : 2237
Age : 52
Location : Aberdeenshire, Scotland
My eBay : spatrick658
Species Kept : Japanese, Bobwhites, Gambels & Calis
Registration date : 2007-07-11

http://www.freewebs.com/aberdeenshirequail

Back to top Go down

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum