Dark Factor mutations have now been present in all lovebird species. Mutations that will basically have a dark effect on lovebird species. Whereas the green wild type will become dark green with one dark factor.
Dark Factor mutations were first present in the Agapornis personatus, so they are now found in Fischer, Lilianae, and nigrigenis species resulting from the transmutation process.
Dark Factor mutations fall into the category of feather structure mutations, as do those that occur in Slaty mutations and Violet mutations. The inheritance mode on the Dark Factor mutation is incomplete Dominant. So there is no split on the Dark Factor Mutation.
Dark Factor mutations symbolized by the letter " D " can be interpreted as carrying the Single Dark Factor gene. And " DD" can be construed as having the Double Dark Factor gene.
You only need one factor in the parent's spouse to get the Dark Factor mutation in the Green Series. Suppose you cross Green X "D" Green, then in F1, chicks already with the phenotype Green One Dark Factor or "D" Green.
You only need one factor in the parent couple to get the Dark Factor mutation in the blue series. For example, if you cross between Blue X "D"Blue, you will soon get "D"blue chicks in F1.
Dark Factor Mutations will always be present to complement a combination of the latest mutations. The right reason to always have this mutation in your aviary.
Phenotype Characteristics of Dark Factor Mutations
The coat color will undoubtedly look darker than the wild type; on the Agapornis FIscheri and personatus, the dark factor mutation rump feathers are grey for the " DD factor and dull violet for the " D " Factor.
How Dark Factor Mutations Work
If we use the skeleton of how color is produced in parrots, we will quickly assume that the dark gene increases eumelanin. Came to the conclusion that the more eumelanin the bird has, the darker it should be.
But the darker shadow effect is NOT due to an increase in eumelanin. So the dark gene does not appear because of an increase in eumelanin.
This is due to the interaction of light with changes in the structure of the sponge zone. In the sponge zone, size becomes very important. One dark factor in birds will cause some changes in the thickness of the sponge zone.
A smaller sponge zone will cause light to be reflected in a darker shade of blue, and in green pheasants, this will lead to darker feathers or green phenotypes.
In double-factor birds, the width of the sponge zone becomes much smaller. Thus, the reflected blue light becomes darker, resulting in darker green.
They are born with white down. There is a difference between Green/blue1 chicks and Green/blue2 chicks. Green/blue1, when newly hatched, have initial reddish feathers, probably almost the same as wild-type chicks.An example of a Green/blue2 Liliane Nyasa chick from Ryan Day's senior breeder.While Green/blue2 has white initial down feathers.
It can be concluded that the Dark Factor mutation does not occur due to increased melanin levels in the plumage. But the dimensional change of the sponge zone is a factor that influences how phenotyped in this mutation.
So they are included in the category of feather structure mutations, where any changes in the structure of feathers caused by dark factor mutations have no effect on psittacine.
Combinations for Dark Factor mutations
Almost all categories of mutations are no problem if combined with Dark Factors. In the psittacine category, you can provide a combination with the Blue Mutation or with the Blue1blue2.
You can combine violet mutations with one dark factor in the Feather structure mutation category. It is precisely in the Violet mutation that the best appearance results from various Blue + Single Dark Factor + Double Violet Factor.
You should also try pale fallow, Bronze Fallow, and Dun Fallow to give the mutation a dark and concentrated effect.
You are not recommended to cross the Dark Factor with the Misty Mutation, as the effect of the change will not be apparent.
A combination of Double Dark Factor is also not recommended for crossing with Euwing Mutations. Because it will make the fur on the Euwing twisted, which is awful.