Green Opaline Quaker Genetics

[Chickie01]

Hello, I just joined and this is my first post so if it is in the wrong area, please forgive me.

I have had Marley for a few years. I was told by the breeder that the bird is a female, because "all visually green opaline quakers are female". But this person has given me false information in the past, so now I'm questioning gender. Is that really true? Any help much appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Emma&pico]

your birds are gorgeous thank you for sharing pics

@Pixiebeak might be able to help you

 

[Pixiebeak]

I'd say not true , as all I e seen that are DNA tested have been male

 

[Pixiebeak]

cuties!

 

[Chickie01]

I'd say not true , as all I e seen that are DNA tested have been male

So how do genetics work for opaline? Could the breeder have known gender of Marley based on what colors the parent birds were?

 

[Parutti]

I know nothing about color genetics but wow what an adorable couple of birds you have!

 

[Pixiebeak]

I really don't know genetics at all. They're sex color links. But then with all the colors mutations now it seems you can get both sexs in previous sex links??? Honestly I didn't know.

 

[expressmailtome]

So how do genetics work for opaline? Could the breeder have known gender of Marley based on what colors the parent birds were?

This is a sex-linked mutation. To put it as simply as possible, males can be either visually opaline, or split to opaline (not able to be seen, but they still have the gene). Females, on the other hand, can only be visually opaline. Therefore, in order for a male to be visibly opaline, he needs two opaline genes whereas a female only needs one. This is why there are many more females that are visual for sex-linked mutations than males. Now, for a female to be opaline, only the father needs to have the opaline gene be it one copy (split) or two copies (visual). For a male to be visually opaline, both parents must have at least one opaline gene (mother must be opaline and the father must either be visual or split).