These pattern genes are located on the same chromosome that can contain the gene for spread and also the gene for opal. As mentioned in earlier articles, the spread factor (gene) is not a pattern, but in fact another mutation that is separate from the mutation that causes patterns. So, a spread King such as a black or ash red spread will still be one of three basic patterns: barred, check or T pattern check. Since the pattern gene is not sex linked, both cocks and hens carry two genes for pattern. Pattern genes are arranged on the chromosome in order of dominance: barless is recessive to bar, and check is dominate to bar, with T pattern being dominate to checker. Because both cocks and hens carry two pattern genes, they can carry the same kinds (homozygous) or two different (heterozygous). The most dominate gene will give you the phenotype, that is, the pattern that we see. Example: A check cock (or hen) can carry the gene for bar, but since the check gene is the dominate gene, check is what we see.

Since this article deals with the check pattern, let us look at the two basic ones. First is the check which we sometimes refer to as the "open check". With this pattern there is a definite separation from the light and dark areas, hence the term "check". In photo #1 we see the classic check pattern, a blue check cock. Notice the two bars that show on this bird. This indicates that this cock is a heterozygous check carrying bar. Somewhere in his background is a barred bird and this bar gene has been passed down to him. He can produce barred birds if mated to a bar hen or check hen also carrying bar, but cannot produce bars if mated to a homozygous check hen.

Photo #2 shows a blue cock in the T pattern check. In other breeds this T pattern is also referred to as "velvet". Pigeon geneticist Joe Quinn states that this T pattern blue is the best pattern to use if mating to black because it will produce a better, richer black color. I am currently trying a mating of T pattern blue to black, so we will see if this is true. In blue check Kings, the T pattern seems to be rarer than the open check, at least I know that I have seen far fewer T patterns than open checks.

Photo #3 shows a red check cock, probably a T pattern check. The T pattern seems to be more common in the red checks, and I seem to raise more of them than open checks. Photo #4 is an indigo cock in what appears to be a T pattern, but I am not sure if the indigo gene causes the pattern to express itself different because I cannot recall seeing an indigo in the open check. Every indigo that I have ever raised has appeared to be this heavy T pattern. Of course there are indigo barred Kings, which look similar to the blue bar, but I cannot recall seeing a real open check pattern in the indigo King.

Last photo is of a yellow T pattern check hen. This birds nestmate was a darker and heavier T pattern yellow hen, but they both carry as a second pattern gene, the bar gene. So I can produce yellow bars from these hens if mated to a bar or another bird carrying bar !

Since the check gene is a dominate gene, we see a lot of show Kings in this pattern. It really helps to know the genetic background of your checks as it will help you to determine what you will be able to get from your matings.

Good luck with your Kings !

By: Dennis Rogers