What influence homozygous blue on the e+ allele??

[rollyard]

From my own observations, homozygous blue turns the brown/fawn in e+/e+ ducks (females) to a colour on the continuum between buff & apricot, maybe dependent to some degree on the phase gene involved?

Some examples:-

Apricot Fawn ducks are the wild-type colouration with two doses of blue & appear largely a creamy-buff (pastel) colour (with other hues also).

The Saxony is light phase wild-type with two doses of blue & appears colourwise buff.

The Appricot Runner (Dusky) is light phase dusky with two doses of blue & appears buff/apricot.

Others could be added to the list!

The Buff orpington is a little different in that it has the recessive sex-linked (illusive) buff gene. I have seen a photo of a buff orpington drake which apparently doesn't have any blue dilution but still appears buff. Genetically a dark phase dusky with a single dose of the blue gene here in Australia (plus brown & buff dilutions). I believe that elsewhere the buffs are bred with homozygous blue, these being termed blondes here.

Pure blue also appears to even the tone of pigmented areas (on a feather). For example, a Saxony is a trout & a trout ducks feathers a fawn ground with darker pencilling?

So, what has peoples experiences been with pure blue on e+ birds?
How has the blue affected the brown/fawn areas of the bird?
What is the difference in your view between buff & appricot?
How does pure blue appear when in combination with various genes, eg dark phase, light phase, harlequin phase , wild-type, dusky, restricted mallard?

Questions questions but would really appreciate hearing about others observations on the effect of pure blue on brown/fawn pigmentation

Cheers

 

[CityChicker]

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[duckyfromoz]

While the topic is here... Can I ask for some comments on these two drakes. Both came from the same parents- so I am wondering if the lighter of the two (Harley) has colouring influenced by blue as he is so much lighter on the head as well as the tail and wing primaries. Although al my other drakes now have the black hood with a nice green sheen- Harley seems to be desined to stay the colour he is. Not a particularly good photo - But Was wondering if one of you can give me some information what has made him different.

 

[rollyard]

Speculative

 

[rollyard]

Speculative

 

[rollyard]

Speculative

 

[duckyfromoz]

Thanks Rollyard..

Goggleduck to me also is a Harlequin Drake - Although maybe not quite fitting the Australian standards 100% They are in such small numbers- a comparison in photo form is hard to find- These photos were a few weeks old- But the only good one I had of them together- His head is now darker with the green sheen expected.

Harley is 2 months older than Goggle and has not gone darker when molting at all. He isnt in an eclipse patten- He has just always been that colour - much lighter than Goggle and two of my other Drakes. None of my ducklings have ever had eye stripes.
I am expecting offspring to be hatching over the current weeks- And if what I believe- and what you have confirmed is correct I hope to see an improvement in the colouring of one particular duck that I have previously shown you photos of.

I will let you know how things deveolp with the offspring.

 

[CityChicker]

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[duckyfromoz]

Thanks Citychicker, I wanted to try some colour experimentation with this fellow before I remove him from the breeding pool when I get serious next spring. I certainly dont want to breed more like him- But want to see the effect of using him over a duck that is too dark in some of her colouring. I will let you both know how the offspring may turn out.

Thank you both for your input.