Cameo
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Type of mutation: Cameo is a color mutation, and can also be combined with spaldings to create Cameo Spaldings. |
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Peacock Coloration: At the beginning of the season, males are dark brown in color, but by the time they begin to molt the sun has bleached them to a much lighter "coffee milk color." The neck remains a darker color than the rest of the body the entire year, and the train is darker in color than the wings, which exhibit brown and tan barring. The ocelli on the train have varying shades of brown, but no iridescence. |
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Peahen Coloration: Females are creamy brown and lighter than the males in color. Their heads and neck are a darker rust, and the color fades on the breast and back of the bird. |
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Peachick Coloration: Chicks look much like those of the India Blue, but are lighter in color, and are a creamy brown. |
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Origin: Cameo was the first color mutation discovered besides the white, and has been around for awhile. It was originally called the silver dun. Cameos originated in Maine in the 1960s, and were first bred by Oscar Mulloy. Sherman Cram, Dennis Cook, and Norman Waycott helped perfect the mutation. |
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Do they breed true?: Yes, cameo x cameo will produce 100% cameo chicks. However, like the purple, cameo is a sex linked mutation. This means that when a cameo cock is bred to any other type of hen, all the female offspring will be cameo and the males offspring India Blue split to cameo and the hen's color. Cameo hens cannot produce cameo offspring when bred to other types of males, only offspring split to cameo. Since the mutation has been along for many years, there is not a shortage of males like in the purples. |
Three month old Cameo pair, photo courtesy of me.
Six month old Cameo male, photo courtesy of me.
Yearling Cameo male in display, photo courtesy of me.
Two year old Cameo male, photo courtesy of me.
Mature Cameo hen, photo courtesy of Barry @ The Feathersite.
Pair of mature Cameos, photo courtesy of ? (If this is your picture, please let me know!)
Mature Cameo in display, photo courtesy of me.
