Why do birds even lay blue eggs? Is a question we must explore first before we even try to isolate the Coturnix Quail Blue Egg Phenotype!
Moreno & Osorno (2003) have recently suggested that blue egg colouring may have been selected by male birds, The theory depends on a key assumption : that males will increase their contribution to care if they perceive their female to be of high genetic or phenotypic quality.
But if high-quality females are capable of rearing offspring more or less singlehandedly then it is equally possible that a male will respond by reducing his involvement in parental care. Females should then go to great lengths to conceal their quality to be sure of extracting as much care as possible from their partner.
We are on the search for that "High-Quality" female Coturnix Quail that lays egg with the blue colouring, which is quite rare in the United States. The common Coturnix Quail egg coloring is olive with variable blotches.
Biliverdin, is the pigment primarily responsible for the blue-green tinge to egg shells. Poole (1965) found biliverdin in the superficial part of the uterus in the wild-type Japanese quail, the deposition beginning 2-3 hr before oviposition.
Some species of Dinosaurs also had the blue-greenish coloration produced by the organic color pigments biliverdin (blue) and protoporphyrin (red). Among modern birds that lay eggs of this color, males often provide more care, so the study also posits that the same could have been true in dinosaurs. Males dinosaurs played an important role in parental care.
As we embark on a journey that started over 67-million-years ago with the dinosaurs, our quest for the blue quail egg is symbolic of the loyalty between male and female.
I am truly proud to present my vision for the The "Jazzy Jazmine" Selective Breeding Project as the first original Coturnix Quail strain in the Cute Chicks
Brand.
We have acquired eggs from James Marie Farms imported from P&L Gamebirds of Canada This line has the "ce" gene (aka - the Blue egg gene) breed into it by Perry.
The "
We are selectively breeding quails from The Schofield Silver Collection to isolate the Blue Egg Phenotype and for weight.
Name: Cute Chicks™ Jumbo Coturnix Quail, "Jazzy Jazmine" a sex-linked strain
Description: A jumbo sized coturnix quail that lays a blue biliverdin pigmented egg, when the chicks are hatched male and female will display sex-linked coloration making it easy to identify blue egg laying hens.
WEIGHTS:
14 days about 0.18 lbs
42 days must be 0.63 lbs+
All Colors TBD
Adult Male
Adult Female
Chick Male
Chick Female
ROOSTER SELECTION: Males that bully, roll or bloody the hens are out
HENS LAYING EGGS: greater than > 13 grams.
For hatching eggs to make the next generation of jumbos I take my biggest males by weight, put them with my females laying the biggest eggs.
SET EGGS: greater than > 13 grams.
Genetic Diversity:
Will integrate quails from a NPIP provider as needed to provide genetic diversity for the breeding flock.
Will Update This Standard as Needed...
If you are interested in Blue Quail eggs and want to in participate in the "Jazzy Jazmine" selective breeding project; Check out www.edwardspoultryexchange.com
Cheers!
-Edward
Blue Coturnix Quail Eggs; Image from http://www.pandlgamebirds.ca/
Resources
Kennedy GY, Vevers HG (1976) A survey of avian eggshell pigments. Comp Biochem Physiol B 55: 117–123 doi:––10.1016/0305–0491(76)90183–8.
Washburn K (1990) Genetic variation in egg composition. Poultry Breeding and Genetics: Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ed R.D. Crawford). Elsevier B. V: 781–804.
Punnett RC (1933) Genetic studies in poultry, Chapter IX, The blue egg. J Genet 27: 465–470. doi: 10.1007/bf02981757
Zhao R, Xu GY, Liu ZZ, Li JY, Yang N (2006) A study on eggshell pigmentation: biliverdin in blue-shelled chickens. Poult Sci 85: 546–549. doi: 10.1093/ps/85.3.546
Moreno & Osorno (2003) have recently suggested that blue egg colouring may have been selected by male birds, The theory depends on a key assumption : that males will increase their contribution to care if they perceive their female to be of high genetic or phenotypic quality.
But if high-quality females are capable of rearing offspring more or less singlehandedly then it is equally possible that a male will respond by reducing his involvement in parental care. Females should then go to great lengths to conceal their quality to be sure of extracting as much care as possible from their partner.
We are on the search for that "High-Quality" female Coturnix Quail that lays egg with the blue colouring, which is quite rare in the United States. The common Coturnix Quail egg coloring is olive with variable blotches.
Biliverdin, is the pigment primarily responsible for the blue-green tinge to egg shells. Poole (1965) found biliverdin in the superficial part of the uterus in the wild-type Japanese quail, the deposition beginning 2-3 hr before oviposition.
Some species of Dinosaurs also had the blue-greenish coloration produced by the organic color pigments biliverdin (blue) and protoporphyrin (red). Among modern birds that lay eggs of this color, males often provide more care, so the study also posits that the same could have been true in dinosaurs. Males dinosaurs played an important role in parental care.
As we embark on a journey that started over 67-million-years ago with the dinosaurs, our quest for the blue quail egg is symbolic of the loyalty between male and female.
I am truly proud to present my vision for the The "Jazzy Jazmine" Selective Breeding Project as the first original Coturnix Quail strain in the Cute Chicks
This is the Standard of a new strain; Coturnix Quail (Coturnix japonica) aka "Jazzy Jazmine" updated (07/19/15)
We have acquired eggs from James Marie Farms imported from P&L Gamebirds of Canada This line has the "ce" gene (aka - the Blue egg gene) breed into it by Perry.
- The eggs are from the The Schofield Silver Collection (Desired Genetic Traits: Blue Eggs)
The "
Jazzy Jazmine
" Selective Breeding Project:We are selectively breeding quails from The Schofield Silver Collection to isolate the Blue Egg Phenotype and for weight.
The Standards
Name: Cute Chicks™ Jumbo Coturnix Quail, "Jazzy Jazmine" a sex-linked strain
Description: A jumbo sized coturnix quail that lays a blue biliverdin pigmented egg, when the chicks are hatched male and female will display sex-linked coloration making it easy to identify blue egg laying hens.
- All chicks male and female must weigh 0.18 lbs by 14 days.
- All birds male and female must weigh 0.63 lbs by 42 days.
WEIGHTS:
14 days about 0.18 lbs
42 days must be 0.63 lbs+
All Colors TBD
Adult Male
Adult Female
Chick Male
Chick Female
ROOSTER SELECTION: Males that bully, roll or bloody the hens are out
HENS LAYING EGGS: greater than > 13 grams.
For hatching eggs to make the next generation of jumbos I take my biggest males by weight, put them with my females laying the biggest eggs.
SET EGGS: greater than > 13 grams.
Genetic Diversity:
Will integrate quails from a NPIP provider as needed to provide genetic diversity for the breeding flock.
Will Update This Standard as Needed...
If you are interested in Blue Quail eggs and want to in participate in the "Jazzy Jazmine" selective breeding project; Check out www.edwardspoultryexchange.com
Cheers!
-Edward
Blue Coturnix Quail Eggs; Image from http://www.pandlgamebirds.ca/
Resources
Kennedy GY, Vevers HG (1976) A survey of avian eggshell pigments. Comp Biochem Physiol B 55: 117–123 doi:––10.1016/0305–0491(76)90183–8.
Washburn K (1990) Genetic variation in egg composition. Poultry Breeding and Genetics: Developments in Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ed R.D. Crawford). Elsevier B. V: 781–804.
- Kilner RM (2006) The evolution of egg colour and patterning in birds. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 81: 383–406 doi:10.1017/S1464793106007044.
Punnett RC (1933) Genetic studies in poultry, Chapter IX, The blue egg. J Genet 27: 465–470. doi: 10.1007/bf02981757
Zhao R, Xu GY, Liu ZZ, Li JY, Yang N (2006) A study on eggshell pigmentation: biliverdin in blue-shelled chickens. Poult Sci 85: 546–549. doi: 10.1093/ps/85.3.546
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