Peafowl 201: Further Genetics- Colors, Patterns, and More

[Midnightman14]

I really like this thread, lots of good info on probably the most complex and inexact aspect of peafowl keeping. If this is still being added to maybe it would be a good idea to mention some of the genetic issues surrounding colors? I know that inbreeding depression causes problems regardless of color but (and I asked about this on another thread with a cameo bird someone asked about) with some colors such as charcoal the hens are sterile and the males have issues with going blind, the blindness factor happens in the cameos too apparently and is indicated by a bird turning progressively whiter? With the Cameo I am still waiting on an answer but perhaps it would be a good idea to mention any potential debilitating genetic conditions that can accompany certain gene expressions?

 

[Midnightman14]

Midnight is recessive so breeding a split midnight bird to an IB will give no midnights, an IB split to midnight will only produce midnights if bred to another midnight or to another split midnight. I admit the Midnights are my favorite hence the screen name and avatar picture.

 

[Birdrain92]

Midnight is recessive so breeding a split midnight bird to an IB will give no midnights, an IB split to midnight will only produce midnights if bred to another midnight or to another split midnight. I admit the Midnights are my favorite hence the screen name and avatar picture.

I think all of the mutations are recessive to the original form.

 

[Midnightman14]

Yes that's what I've observed/read as well, thought I'd try my hand at predicting what the offspring might be. I am getting better at it but there is always more to learn

 

[Birdrain92]

The one area with peafowl I'm trying to learn more on is Charcoals. Not many resources on them and why the hens are sterile. I wish people would spend more time to try and improve the variety.

 

[Midnightman14]

For me the cost and complexity of breeding them is a deterrant as well as the going blind factor. I am curious as to whether the sterility factor is sex linked to the color or just the product of to much inbreeding.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

I think we all want to know why, how and what we can do to improve on how we breed. This thread is very current and I have gleaned a lot of useful info from it.

With so many new mutations, it is taking a long time to learn more about them. And too, peafowl take 2 years to get started breeding and then 2 years for offspring to be mature so we are a bit behind from the start on learning more about all the colors and problems we may encounter.

It is great to see new questions asked or maybe even just be able to read each others ideas on why they think things are happening in the breeding programs with birds.

 

[Dany12]

They always need 2 gènes of the mutation of color or pattern to show the color or the pattern ! .... each gene coming from each parent .Except the Pied pattern and the female of sex linked color.
I suppose the female charcoal are sterile because it's linked to her sex gene.

 

[Birdrain92]

They always need 2 gènes of the mutation of color or pattern to show the color or the pattern ! .... each gene coming from each parent .Except the Pied pattern and the female of sex linked color.
I suppose the female charcoal are sterile because it's linked to her sex gene.

Wonder if it's more of a missing chromosome? Or the ovaries never develop when they're in the egg.

 

[WestKnollAmy]

The missing chromosome sounds like a plausible hypothesis!