'frillback pigeon' question

[member 544621]

About a month ago I picked up some pigeons off CL to use for training my bird dogs. 5 are white and 2 are white/splash colored...I have noticed one of the white ones has some feathers 'poking' out along his wings/back.... which makes me think frillback, of course... My question is, if a pigeon is only 'part' frill back' will the feathers only be 'part' curly? or is he just a youngster who has not developed his adult plumage????

thanks a bunch!

 

[Qwerty3159]

Yes, frillback is an incomplete dominant trait so when crossed with another breed you’ll see some frilling but not across the entire body.

Alternatively, the feathers may have just been damaged while growing in during molt. One of my hens has one single feather that got bent while growing in sticking up on her back currently.

 

[member 544621]

Thank you, I figured that would likely be the case. Incomplete dominance I believe - feathers going down his legs to his feet (but he does not have feathered feet).