Description:
Rusty is a mutation in quail that causes them to turn a bright orange color, brighter than Roux (1) and likely brighter than Ginger as well, though a similar dilution. While Roux and Ginger affect the whole feather of the bird and will be a pale red all the way through, the birds with Rusty will have a slate blue undercolor and fluff. (1)
Rusty birds, when tested, were also smaller than pharaoh, Curly, and Rusty+Curly birds from the same breeding program (1). It is unknown if that is just because of the line of birds Rusty was found in or another cause.
It was officially discovered in 2005 in Minvielle's French laboratory, and given the gene symbol RU. It has only been tested once on Pharaoh (1) and it is unknown how common it is outside of a lab setting. The order of dominance is Wildtype > Rusty, and it is unknown what locus it is on or how it interacts with any other genes.
Breeding with Rusty:
Rusty x Rusty = 100% Rusty
(ru/ru x ru/ru = 100% ru/ru)
Rusty x Wildtype = 100% Carriers
(ru/ru x ru+/ru+ = 100% ru/ru+)
Rusty x Carrier = 50% Rusty, 50% Carrier
(ru/ru x ru/ru+ = 50% ru/ru, 50% ru/ru+)
Carrier x Carrier = 25% Rusty, 50% Carrier, 50% Wildtype
(ru/ru+ x ru/ru+ = 25% ru/ru, 50% ru/ru+, 50% ru+/ru+)
Carrier x Wildtype = 50% Carrier, 50% Wildtype
(ru/ru+ x ru+/ru+ = 50% ru/ru+, 50% ru+/ru+)
References & Further Reading
Minvielle, F., Gourichon, D., & Moussu, C. (2005). Two new plumage mutations in the Japanese quail:" curly" feather and" rusty" plumage. BMC genetics, 6, 1-5.
Gallery of Images
