| ORIGINAL BOOK REVIEW by Dr. Rainer R. Erhardt "Well, there is help on the horizon and anyone seriously interested in color genetics should take a look at Linda Rubin's book: COCKATIEL GENETICS MADE EASY! Though this book is primarily directed to breeders of cockatiel mutations, there is enough information in this volume to teach anyone the secrets of dealing with recessive, sex-linked, and dominant mutations..." ACBM, Vol. 65, No.12 CLICK TO READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW! 112 pages, 15 chapters, glossary & more! |
Copyright 2006 Linda S. Rubin
| Multiple Bird Households by Linda S. Rubin |
| Series by Linda S. Rubin |
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| Sexing and Tick Markings in Whiteface Pearls vs. Pieds Copyright © 2003 LINDA S. RUBIN CF Genetics Consultant/Panel Judge www.CockatielsPlusParrots.com All Rights Reserved Selected Q&A's "From My Mailbox" Q. A local breeder has chicks from a Whiteface cock and a Whiteface Pearl hen, claiming that a Whiteface Pearl male can be visually sexed by looking for a patch on the back of the head that indicates it is split to pearl. Is the breeder correct, or do I need to wait until after the first molt? I am really quite frustrated because I do not want to pick a bird, do a DNA test, and be disappointed yet again. A. Unfortunately, I will have to disappoint you. A Whiteface Pearl cannot be "split Pearl" because it already is Pearl. Even if this remark is misinterpreted, the breeder appears to be misleading by stating that a Whiteface split Pearl cockatiel could be identified by "a patch on the back of the head that indicates it is split to Pearl," which is untrue. The only mutation that displays tick markings (e.g., splashes of white or yellow about the head, neck or body) is the Pied mutation in the heterozygous state, more familiarly termed as “split.” This simply means that any cockatiel that shows tick markings is carrying the gene for Pied, (not Pearl) in a hidden state. To date, the Pied mutation is the only color mutation in cockatiels that may, on occasion, be outwardly indicated as a hidden recessive by displaying the presence of tick markings. The pair you mention, a Whiteface cock x a Whiteface Pearl hen will produce: 50% Whiteface split Pearl cocks 50% Whiteface hens Males produced from this pair will be Whiteface split to Pearl; the hens will be Whiteface. However, the only guaranteed method of sexing them is by DNA testing or by waiting for behavioral clues. There will be no outward markings to identify the male offspring from this pairing until they begin to color out and develop their solid white facial mask after their juvenile molt. What you may, or may not have been told, is to find a breeder who is pairing a sex-linked male (e.g., Lutino, Pearl, Cinnamon, or Sex-linked Yellowcheek), to a non-linked hen (e.g., a hen that is not the same color as the male). This will enable the breeder to sex the chicks once they feather. Any daughters produced will be visual for the sex-linked mutation and look like their sire; any males produced will not be visual for their sire's color, but will be split and carry the sire's sex-linked color in a hidden, recessive state. Some breeders will permit you to select a bird and pay for the DNA test and if not satisfied, allow you the option of another choice (and another paid test) before purchasing, or offer a limited return policy. Frankly, it is less expensive to locate a pair as suggested, where the male is a visual sex-linked color and the female is any other color (e.g. a Pearl male mated to a Cinnamon female, etc). |
| SEXING, SPLITS & TICK MARKINGS IN WHITEFACE PEARLS AND PIEDS Copyright © 2003 Linda S.Rubin All Rights Reserved |
| c.2005 Linda S. Rubin Click image to enlarge photo |