Introduction to Whites
One of the first colour mutations the novice Gloster breeder will come across is the white. It's compact shape, and dense feathering, make it the ideal subject for the specialist, whether clear, clear with dark crest or clear dark crest and even marked wings, the beauty of the white Gloster is beyond comparison.
Dominant White
The mutation of white, which the Gloster breeder will be working with, is known as dominant.
Although there are recessive whites, the few examples in the possession of breeders are confined to those who specialise in New Colour canaries.
The dominant white canary is never truly a pure white, but always shows a slight tinge of yellow somewhere in the wings, and or, tail. The removal of this colour is impossible, but it is possible for the expert fancier to breed birds where its detection requires more than a second look.
Most of the pairings to produce whites are generally buff x white, the white partner being of either sex, neither being more beneficial than the other. Rarely is the white paired with a yellow partner, as it is thought that the use of yellow increases the pigmentation carried by the whites produced from this pairing.
Clear Whites
If the breeder wishes to produce clear whites, he will be more successful by using birds that show no variegation. The use of the Grizzle or clear crested corona is an advantage in this paring, but for the production of dark crests it will be advisable to use either lightly marked consorts with clear coronas or a dark crested buff with a clear white consort.
Genetics
The mode of inheritance for the dominant white is exactly the same as that for the Corona. The pairing of white to buff, produces an expectation of 50% of each colour being present in the resulting offspring. Because white is dominant over normal colour, two whites are never employed together as a breeding pair as the coupling of two dominant factors gives 25% chicks that are non-viable. i.e. not strong enough to survive.