Imperfect Albino

Imperfect albino is a pleiotropic gene (meaning it affects more than just plumage/feather color) in quail that strips the bird of almost all of the melanin (2). The bird will be almost entirely white with yellowish undertones and will also have red, sensitive eyes (2)(1).

It is also sexlinked (4), meaning that it is possible to set a hatch where you can tell males from females as day-olds. It is similar to the sexlinked Cinnamon, but albino will be whiter overall and have a yellow-grey undercolor instead of the brown undercolor of cinnamon (2). Albino will also have more sensitive and brighter red of eyes, and the heads of chicks will often be see-through (1).

A few studies have found different weights and sizes, some saying Albino lines have had smaller weights and slower growth (5), while others found larger overall weight and growth (3). This suggests that just like most mutations, the actual growth rate and line is independent of the actual albino mutation, and albino can be bred to be larger or smaller just like most plumage mutations.

Albino is not common and many breeders avoid it due to the eye issues and other health concerns. It is in public hands in the United States and abroad, but mostly is just found in labs.

Breeding with Albino:

Albino Male x Albino Female = 100% Albino chicks

Albino Male x Clean Female = Albino females, het. Albino males

Clean Male x Albino Female = 100% clean female chicks, 100% het. Albino male chicks

Het. Albino male x Albino Female = 50% Albino female chicks, 50% clean female chicks, 50% het. Albino male chicks, 50% Albino male chicks

Het. Albino male x Clean Female = 50% clean female chicks, 50% Albino female chicks, 50% het. Albino male chicks, 50% clean male chicks.

Note: it is impossible to have a heterozygous female chick, as females can only have one Z chromosome, and the "pair" or the W chromosome is short, meaning it forces the recessive mutation to show even with only one copy. This is called Hemizygous. Refer to the genetics series if you would like to read more.