Description:
Pharaoh is the purest form of color-- it is what a quail looks like without any other dilutions, bases, mutations, or otherwise. They don't have a locus or inheritance because it is the absence of anything on top of it. Without any mutations, it will always breed true. Pharaoh is essential for breeding programs as it acts as a "test color" to breed everything back to, mainly because it is so predictable and can be considered a clean slate.
They are an even brown color with wing patterning. Backs should present straight, even, white vertical lines on both sexes. Each feather should have eye-like black patterns on back feathers and wing feathers will present a wavy-type pattern. Masks should be clean and crisp, and both sexes should present a thin white chin strap across the bottom of their face.
They are feather sexable at three weeks. Females will have black chest speckling while males will have a rusty, clean chest. Males with SLB will also have a rusty, reddish face, though this is not ideal.
Breeding with Pharaoh:
Pharaoh x Pharoah = 100% pharaoh
Pharaoh x Manchurian = 100% Italian
Pharaoh x Tibetan = 100% Rosetta
Pharaoh x Italian = 50% Pharaoh, 50% Italian
Pharaoh x Rosetta = 50% Rosetta, 50% Pharaoh
References & Further Reading
R.E. TRUAX, W.A. JOHNSON,Genetics of Plumage Color Mutants in Japanese Quail,Poultry Science, Volume 58, Issue 1, 1979, Pages 1-9, ISSN 0032-5791,https://doi.org/10.3382/ps.0580001. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579119553044)
