Density of Feather Pigment in Rhode Island Reds

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Abstract
Pigments were dissolved from feathers using a 0.2% soln. of KOH and boiling for 5 min. The volume of KOH needed for each feather was detd. by the wt. of the feathers. Losses from boiling were restored by adding dist. water. Filtered solns. were used for colorimetric detns. Three control solns. were employed, namely extracts from the feathers of one exhibition male, extracts from the feathers of the sire and extracts from the feathers of the dams. Four generations of males and females were included. The data demonstrate a slight sex difference in pigment density with females somewhat more dense than males. Two dominant pigment suppressors are suggested, one being sex-linked and the other autosomal. These genes have a cumulative effect. R. I. Reds with very dense pigmentation apparently carry neither of these suppressors while birds with varying degrees of lighter pigmentation carry various complements of these suppressors.

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