The Genetics of Cockatiels
Listed below are the mutations that are Dominant, Sex Linked and Recessive
DominantGrey (Normal)
Dominant Silver Dominant Yellow Cheek Pastel Face( Dominant to white face) |
Sex- LinkedPearl
Lutino Cinnamon White Face Lutino (mistakenly called Albino) Sex-linked yellow Cheek(SLYC) |
RecessivePied
White Face Fallow Recessive Silver Pastel Face (recessive to Normal) Emerald Gold Cheek |
Dominant Genes
Dominant genes are just as they sound, they are dominant and this means no bird can be split to any mutation that is dominant, it is not a possibility at all! With this gene only one parent needs to carry it, to get visual babies in that mutation.
Dominant genes are just as they sound, they are dominant and this means no bird can be split to any mutation that is dominant, it is not a possibility at all! With this gene only one parent needs to carry it, to get visual babies in that mutation.
Sex- Linked Genes
Sex-linked genes are those genes that typically only the female carries, females can only carry these genes visually, females cannot be split to any sex linked gene. Males can posses the sex linked gene in two ways the 1st is being split to it (they carry the gene but you do not see it visually), and the second is being visual for the sex linked gene. In order for them to be split to it, it would mean their mother was a visual their father did not have the gene at all. In order for a male to be a visual sex linked mutation, both parents had the gene, the mother would be visual, the father would either be split to it, or a visual. When both parents carry the sex linked gene any visual offspring (babies) could be males or females there would be no easy in nest sexing in this case.
Sex-linked genes are those genes that typically only the female carries, females can only carry these genes visually, females cannot be split to any sex linked gene. Males can posses the sex linked gene in two ways the 1st is being split to it (they carry the gene but you do not see it visually), and the second is being visual for the sex linked gene. In order for them to be split to it, it would mean their mother was a visual their father did not have the gene at all. In order for a male to be a visual sex linked mutation, both parents had the gene, the mother would be visual, the father would either be split to it, or a visual. When both parents carry the sex linked gene any visual offspring (babies) could be males or females there would be no easy in nest sexing in this case.
Recessive Genes
Are just as they sound, they are recessive and it takes two copies for there to be any visual offspring(babies), in other words both parents have to carry the gene. With Recessive genes, both males and females are able to be split to it. So if your pair is not a visual pied, but you are getting pied offspring from them, then both parents are split to pied. or You have 1 visual pied and 1 non pied and you get pied offspring, the parent who is not visually a pied is split to pied. Pied is the ONLY mutation that sometimes show visual signs of being split. This is typically seen as a ''clear'' patch on the back of the head, a couple light toe nails when the nails should be dark colored, a ''clear'' wing feather or tail feather are all signs that mean the baby could be split to pied.
However, the best way to be 100% sure that the offspring is split to the gene, is by test breeding - when the offspring is old enough you'd want to breed it to a visual of the recessive gene - keeping with the pied example: If you have a visual pied, and one that you think is split to pied - assuming they are male and female ;), pair them together if that one you think is split to pied, is spit then you will get some visual pied babies, this doesn't always happen in the 1st clutch though, sometimes it can take several clutches for a recessive gene to come out visually.
Are just as they sound, they are recessive and it takes two copies for there to be any visual offspring(babies), in other words both parents have to carry the gene. With Recessive genes, both males and females are able to be split to it. So if your pair is not a visual pied, but you are getting pied offspring from them, then both parents are split to pied. or You have 1 visual pied and 1 non pied and you get pied offspring, the parent who is not visually a pied is split to pied. Pied is the ONLY mutation that sometimes show visual signs of being split. This is typically seen as a ''clear'' patch on the back of the head, a couple light toe nails when the nails should be dark colored, a ''clear'' wing feather or tail feather are all signs that mean the baby could be split to pied.
However, the best way to be 100% sure that the offspring is split to the gene, is by test breeding - when the offspring is old enough you'd want to breed it to a visual of the recessive gene - keeping with the pied example: If you have a visual pied, and one that you think is split to pied - assuming they are male and female ;), pair them together if that one you think is split to pied, is spit then you will get some visual pied babies, this doesn't always happen in the 1st clutch though, sometimes it can take several clutches for a recessive gene to come out visually.
Cross-Over Genes
As with budgies, tiels can also have what is known as a cross over, basically it is when two sex-linked mutations end up on the same X chromosome. Typically there is a 3% chance of this occurring. In cockatiels a cross-over would be a Lutino Cinnamon. Which is a Lutino with a brown wash, sometimes they are mistaken for fallows though. and often times the males molt their ''brown wash'' in, while the females have it from the time they're feathered.
As with budgies, tiels can also have what is known as a cross over, basically it is when two sex-linked mutations end up on the same X chromosome. Typically there is a 3% chance of this occurring. In cockatiels a cross-over would be a Lutino Cinnamon. Which is a Lutino with a brown wash, sometimes they are mistaken for fallows though. and often times the males molt their ''brown wash'' in, while the females have it from the time they're feathered.
