This is a red phase recessive opal cock, raised in 2000. He is the sire of several youngsters for us and although he looks like a typical "silver" ash red bar, he is genetically a blue pigeon. This is the most extreme form of recessive opal and it will often fool even the most experienced genetics enthusiasts among us. This is a perfect example of why some oldtimers insist that they have raised ash reds out of blues, which of course is genetically impossible. What they have raised are red phase recessive opals, and if mated to a blue pigeon that doesn't carry recessive opal, these pigeons will produce only blues.
Return to genetics page