Funky Multicoloured Patterns

A tolbunt is a bit like a millefleur but with  more distinct pattern about it. Classic tolbunt is  lacing  plus motting, usually a structured pattern of black white and gold/red.   It is a relatively newly recognised colour, the name apparently means jazzy,   Tolbunts crop up in breeding  and I often have young birds available to start projects,

 

Tolbunt  is usually mottled over laced pattern but any plumage pattern can be mottled, (autosomal) barred and spangled also work well.

For a while I have been trying to marshal my thoughts on the effect of the mottled gene on mottling and what is actually involved in the millefleur pattern.

The current wisdom is the mottled gene when homozygous stops the growing feather producing pigment for a while, which causes the white tip.  Then the effect of the gene switches off and pigment is put in the feather and because melanin can be formed faster black is laid down first, in a particularly concentrated way which is why the initial band is matt black and doesn’t develop a green sheen.  After the black the feather colour is laid down in the normal way.

Fab patterns and Colours

Often never-to-be-repeated combinations of colour and pattern.  Pretty, dramatic and interesting. 

Different Tolbunts

When other genes combine with mottling  different patterns occur.