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Re: color mutation
Posted by Andie on 5/25/06

It sounds like you have slate babies. That would mean that
they have 2 dark factors. If neither of the parents is a
slate then each parent must have 1 dark factor.

Ok, now for the genetics of dark factors. Some of the babies
would inherit one from one parent and none from another
(giving them 1), and some would inherit one from one parent
and one from another (giving them 2). The same thing is
possible with the violet factor. It depends on if the
parents have 1, 2, 3, or 4 factors between them as to what
the offspring will inherit. Each bird can carry up to two
dark and/or violet factors. An easy way to figure out what
percentage of the babies will inherit the factors is this.
Let's say your mama has 1 dark factor and the daddy has 2.
Add them together that makes 3. So 3/4 of the babies will
have 2 dark factors. This addition only works if each parent
has a dark factor though, because the babies only have a
chance of inheriting 1 dark factor from each parent. You see
how it worked in your case. Each parent has 1 dark factor,
which makes 2, so 1/2 of your babies have 2 dark factors and
1/2 have 1.

Genetics is confusing. I hope I made it at least a little
bit easier to understand.

Andie


On 5/24/06, Mary wrote:
> I have three baby lovebirds out of a pair of WF blue
> violets and was told that they only throw blue violet
> babies.....I now have three of six babies that are a deep
> grey/charcoal color with no sign of blue....what color are
> these babies considered and what is the deal with the
> pair? Thanks for any help!!!!
> Mary

Posts on this thread, including this one

• color mutation, 5/24/06, by Mary.
• Re: color mutation, 5/25/06, by Andie.
• Re: color mutation, 5/25/06, by mary.
• Re: color mutation, 5/25/06, by Andie.