
Description:
The Short Barb mutation in Japanese quail causes the feathers to appear more frayed or "shaggy," and overall shortened feathers across the neck and back. It is visible after the first molt, and the birds do not lose the feathers as they molt. In adult birds, the feathers across the back and body will have all of the down, but very minimal contour feathers, leading to more of the down peaking through. The flight feathers will have slight notches or waves across the edge, but otherwise appear normal.
The shortened barbs are caused from a genetic disruption to the feather process while the bird is in the embryo, which leads to an overall thinner barb structure that doesn't extend to the typical length. Unlike other feather structure mutations like Porcupine or Downless, the Short Barb gene doesn't have any associated health defects or issues, and is as fertile as their wildtype counterparts (1).
It was discovered in Vancouver at the University of British Columbia in 1981, and has only been documented in a lab. It is not believed to be in public hands at this time. The gene symbol is sb, and the order of dominance is Wildtype > Short Barb.
Breeding with Short Barb:
Short Barb x Short Barb = 100% Short Barb
(sb/sb x sb/sb = 100% sb/sb)
Short Barb x Wildtype = 100% Split to Short Barb (SBS)
(sb/sb x sb/sb+ = 100% sb/sb+)
Short Barb x Split to Short Barb = 50% Short Barb, 50% Split to Short Barb
(sb/sb x sb/sb+ = 50% sb/sb, 50% sb/sb+)
Split to Short Barb x Split to Short Barb= 25% Short Barb, 50% Split to Short Barb, 25% Wildtype
(sb/sb+ x sb/sb+ = 25% sb/sb, 50% sb/sb+, 25% sb+/sb+)
Split to Short Barb x Wildtype = 50% Split to Short Barb, 50% Wildtype
(sb/sb+ x sb+/sb+ = 50% sb/sb+, 50% sb+/sb+)
References & Further Reading
Fulton JE, Roberts CW, Nichols CR, Cheng KM. Short barb: a feather structure mutation in Japanese quail. Poult Sci. 1982 Dec;61(12):2319-21. doi: 10.3382/ps.0612319. PMID: 7163112.
Cheng, K. M., and A. H. Brush. "Feather morphology of four different mutations in the Japanese quail." Poultry Science 63.3 (1984): 391-400.
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