Mutation 4 - Albino True albino is a single recessive gene. It causes the loss of all pigments even in the eyes which are bright red. It is recessive to chocolate, chestnut, and fawn. Albinos in a fawn background will be snow white. Albinos are usually weaker and smaller and less productive. There are also Dark Eyed Whites (sometimes incorrectly called "selfs"). These birds are 'over expressing' pied and are said to be a combination of mottled and recessive pied (see pied mutation discussed above and an image dark eyed white under "combinations of mutations"). Dark-eyed whites are not the product of a single recessive gene. To confuse matters more dark-eyed whites in a fawn background may appear to be albino but I have seen both and albinos have much redder eyes. |
