Studies on the Chicken-Quail Hybrids

Abstract

The average fertility of chicken-quail cross eggs was 13.9% in the weekly insemination and 47.9% in the semi-weekly insemination. Thirty-six hybrids were obtained from 2370 eggs of quail inseminated with chicken semen of four breeds (Hinaidori, Rhode Island Red, Barred plymouth Rock and White Leghorn). The white plumage gene (I gene) of W.L., barred plumage gene (B gene) and slow feathering gene (K gene) of B.P.R. behaved as dominant traits in F₁ hybrids, just as in chickens. The data suggest the homology of these genes between chicken and quail. Maximum body weight of F₁ hybrids was influenced by the chicken breeds. Fifteen hybrids examined by leukocyte culture were all males with ZZ chromosomes.