Announcing a new mutation in the
Chinese Painted Quail
Fallow Button Quail
History: This new mutation first appeared in our stock in Feb. of 1999. The first chicks were discovered among normal chicks and were instantly recognizable as different. These chicks emerge from the shell with brilliant pink eyes, lacking all pigment in the eyes but are not albinos. They proved very difficult to rear and most died within a few days of hatching because they were so weak. We were never able to determine which birds in our breeding stock produced the Pink eyed Dilute now known as the FALLOW, but they continued to do produce them. At least we knew to expect more with each setting of eggs.
Their eye sight was very poor and their hatching down is very sparse. The first Fallows not well covered in down like normal chicks. The down color varied considerably, indicating the Pink eyed gene could appear in any color variety of button quail. The first Pink eyed chicks were covered in light down and were Pearls (photo #2) and Silvers. Notice how pale these Pearls are compared to normal pearls of any color variety. Two of these matured to adults. The Pearl was a female, the silver was actually a Pink eye Slate. Since we obtained both male and female Pink eye birds, we knew the gene was a recessive one and not sex linked. Eventually we produced a Fallow that appeared to have dilute normal colored down. This chick was vigorous and we had no problem raising it to adulthood. At maturity it had the full appearance of a very dilute normal wild type female. It bred well and we hatched a number of normal colored offspring from it. However once we placed the Pink eyed adult female in a flight, it simply could not function as a normal bird due to its poor eyesight.
We continued to produce Fallows and eventually our first Fallow Male, which just happened to be a Red Breasted Fallow. This bird clearly revealed the pronounced differences between a normal colored Red Breasted bird and the true colors of a male Fallow. As you can see from the photographs, Fallow males show a charcoal grey color that replaces the typical black color. The rusty red breast and under parts are replaced by a bright orange color, making Fallow males exceptionally different and very attractive.
Over the course of several years we struggled to breed healthier Fallow Button quail with little success. Some were obviously better than others. Many survived well in to adulthood and bred, but most still had very poor eyesight and could not be kept in flights with other Button quail.
When
I described the mutation to Dr. Wilbur Miller, he said it closely resembled a
mutation in Pigeons known as Pink eyed Dilute. Initially I referred to the new
birds as "Pink eyed eyed button quail" but that was very confusing to
many breeders, since some button quail have
bright red eyes though these do not
have eyes that appear to be those of an albino. The true Pink eyed Dilute
has colorless, bright pink eyes thus looking
like the eye of an albino bird.
It was decided to rename the bird Fallow since the dilute cinnamon
plumage color and red eyes do match the Fallow mutations known in a number of
other domestic birds.
I
had essentially given up on Fallow after several years of working with
them. Then things changed and for
the best. It all began when I gave a friend of mine in New Orleans some eggs to
hatch. Several months later I
visited him and upon walking out side to view his planted aviaries, I saw a
group of Button Quail on the floor of an outdoor open flight, immediately I
recognized one of the males in the group as a Fallow. It appears healthy, no eyesight problems and had been
outside for several months. I told
Robert he had to give me that bird which he did.
I
brought the bird home and contacted a friend of mine, Don in Washington State,
telling him what I had, and offered to send him the bird to work with. I was too involved in other bird
projects to devote the time necessary to work with this special Fallow Button
Quail. Don received the male and
immediately paired it with several hens.
They produced fertile eggs and lots of offspring. Over the course of the next two years
Don was able to establish a thriving group of Fallows.
These
Fallow have all of the color and appeal you could ask for and none of the
faults we had to deal with in earlier Fallows. Some how this single male had overcome the barriers and was
vigorous. Don produced a
number of nice healthy birds, and eventually send me some eggs.
In
the fall of 2009 nearly 10 years after the discovery of the first Fallow, I how
have many beautiful Fallows in flights thriving. They breed well, and produce nice health offspring. We even have Fallows in a variety of
colors, Normal, Cinnamon, Pearl, Silver, Red Breasted and Blue face.
It
is truly amazing to see how the Fallow gene affects the mutations. Golden Pearls are nearly orange birds,
Blue face Fallow are absolutely the most gorgeous birds, and even normal wild
type Fallow are exceptionally attractive.
It took 10 year and some luck but it has been well worth the work and wait. Fallow Button quail are truly beautiful and I think will find a permanent place as favorites with many Button Quail breeders.
Garrie Landry
Other Mutations of the Button Quail
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