Finchy wrote:Cheek patches and flank markings almost always match. There's no named mutation other than Dilute Blue that this bird is close to, so I would use that as a working theory for now, but more in a moment...
The interesting thing is that Dilute Blue is a dominant mutation, meaning that you would have seen it before in your flock and quite frequently. Even recessive genes would be expected to show up more than you've seen. So I wonder if it's a truly spontaneous mutation - the starting point for all mutations. Maybe.
Also unusual is how dark the grey is, and that the lines between the black lines on its chest are white like a normal Grey, rather than blue-grey like a Dilute Blue's chest markings. That's another reason to wonder if it's actually some kind of one-off 'Normal Grey with Peach Cheek Patches' mutation!
If you pair it with a normal Grey (new blood/not from your flock) you will know whether the mutation behaves like Dilute Blue because some of the offspring will show the same colouring. If only normal Greys are produced theny you know it's some kind of recessive gene.
Interesting.... not been a mutation breeder ...wouldn't you pair it to its mother first so if it is a one off (in case something unforseen befell it) you may have others to work with?
. I'm sure you know what I mean, though.
