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WHITEFACE LUTINO ("ALBINO") &
WHITEFACE LUTINO PIED
Copyright © 2005 Linda S. Rubin
All Rights Reserved  
Whiteface Lutino (Albino) - click for larger image on Cockatiel Mutations Genome
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ORIGINAL
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by
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primarily directed to
breeders of cockatiel
mutations, there is
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recessive, sex-linked,
and dominant
mutations..."
ACBM, Vol. 65, No.12
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112 pages, 15 chapters,
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Copyright 2007 Linda S. Rubin
c.2006 Suzanne Ravaillion
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Whiteface Lutino ("Albino") & Whiteface Lutino Pieds
Copyright © 2005 LINDA S. RUBIN
NCS Genetics Consultant/NCS Panel Judge   
www.CockatielsPlusParrots.com

First published in the NCS March-April 2005 Journal
All Rights Reserved




Q.  I have a Whiteface cock and a Normal Grey hen. The cock’s mother is a
Whiteface Lutino (Albino) and the father is a Pied. We are on our 3rd
clutch with this pair and in each clutch all the males appear Normal Grey
and the females appear Lutino.  Would it be safe for me to assume that in
future clutches all the males are going to be Normal Grey and all the
females will be Lutino?  Where exactly is the Lutino mutation coming from?
Thanks,
SV



A.   I have done the charting for you so that you will know precisely the full
genetic makeup
(i.e., the genotypes) your pair can produce.  


Because your Whiteface cock's mother is Whiteface Lutino, we know that
your Whiteface cock has to be split to Lutino, because mothers pass their
sex-linked mutations on to their sons. And, because your Whiteface cock's
father is Pied, we know your Whiteface cock is also split to Pied. Therefore:


Mating a Whiteface split Lutino and Pied cock to a Normal Grey hen =


cocks:
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface and Pied
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface and Lutino
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface, Lutino, and Pied

hens:
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface
12.50% Normal Grey split Whiteface and Pied
12.50% Lutino split Whiteface
12.50% Lutino split Whiteface and Pied


The above gametes are the only possibilities because there are no other
genes present to be expressed in order for crossover to occur, unless your
pair are carrying other mutations as (heterozygous) splits in hidden form.


The good news is that you will produce Lutino hens that are guaranteed
split to Whiteface with a 50/50 possibility they may also be split to Pied.
Save these Lutinos because they will be useful in producing Whiteface
Lutino (Albino) offspring when correctly mated to unrelated, or distantly
related cocks that also carry or display both the Lutino and Whiteface
mutations.


Similarly, save your Normal Grey split to Whiteface and Lutino males as
they too will be useful in producing some future percentage of Whiteface
Lutino (Albino) young when paired to unrelated, or distantly related
Whiteface, split Whiteface, Lutino split Whiteface, or Whiteface Lutino
(Albino) hens.


Any Normal Grey male offspring split to Whiteface, Lutino and Pied are also
valuable in producing a small percentage of Whiteface-Lutinos (Albinos)
when properly paired. However, you will need to test breed these males in
order to confirm whether they are split to Pied. The best pick would be any
Normal Grey males showing evidence of white or yellow tick markings about
the head, crest, neck, back or breast area, which would indicate they are
split to Pied. Such test bred and proven Normal Grey males carrying Pied
would also be guaranteed split to Whiteface, with a 50/50 possibility of also
being split to Lutino.


There are some aviculturists who feel that Whiteface Lutino Pieds are the
best form of the “Albino” cross mutation because some Pied bloodlines may
help to eradicate the inherent bald spot carried in many Lutino lines. In all
probability, most high quality mutation bloodlines would help in such an
effort. The bald spot is considered a major show fault in Lutinos and
Whiteface Lutinos (Albinos). Whether cockatiels are bred for exhibition or
simply as a hobby, it is important to eliminate the bald spot and attempt to
produce quality even in our pet stock. Most exhibitors start out by breeding
their pets, therefore we must always think of pet owners who might turn out
to be future aviculturists using our own birds in their breeding programs.


My advice would be to heavily cull (sell) any youngsters that show any
semblance of a bald spot behind the crest so that you do not mix them into
your future Whiteface Lutino (Albino) bloodlines. Try to sell these birds to
good pet homes that are unlikely to breed these birds in the future. This will
help to prevent bald spots from appearing in your Whiteface Lutino (Albino)
bloodlines, as well as in others. LSR.