Try the Genetic Calculators for quick ideas of what you can breed.
The colours of most feathers, scales and hair are determined by the strengths of 3 pigments: Gold, Red and Blue.
Gold is the most abundant and natural colour, and a loss of Gold will cause the feather's whole colour to weaken, no matter how strong the other pigments are. GG therefore produces rich vibrant colour, while Gg or gg produce a duller or altered colour. See the two tables below.Activating Red and/or Blue will shift the overall hue, away from the natural yellowish colour. The only unusual case is when Red and Blue are both at half strength (Rr and Bb) - they create a rainbow sheen on the feather surface, or if lacking enough Gold, plain grey colour.
The relative lightness or darkness of all pigmentation is determined by a pair of P (pale), D (dark) or N (neutral) alleles. PD cancel each other out, and NN also means no change at all; the colour will be of average shade.There are 234 colours available. Hover over a colour to see its name and exact genetic combo.
| RR Bb | RR bb | Rr bb | rr bb | rr Bb | rr BB | Rr BB | RR BB | Rr Bb | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DD | SS |   Cranberry GG RRBb DDSS |
Ruby GG RRbb DDSS |
Sienna GG Rrbb DDSS |
Mustard GG rrbb DDSS |
Forest GG rrBb DDSS |
Indicolite GG rrBB DDSS |
Navy GG RrBB DDSS |
Midnight GG RRBB DDSS |
Oil GG RrBb DDSS |
| Sn |   Cranberry GG RRBb DDSn |
Ruby GG RRbb DDSn |
Sienna GG Rrbb DDSn |
Mustard GG rrbb DDSn |
Forest GG rrBb DDSn |
Indicolite GG rrBB DDSn |
Navy GG RrBB DDSn |
Midnight GG RRBB DDSn |
Oil GG RrBb DDSn |
|
| nn |   Cherry GG RRBb DDnn |
Scarlet GG RRbb DDnn |
Copper GG Rrbb DDnn |
Honey GG rrbb DDnn |
Emerald GG rrBb DDnn |
Ocean GG rrBB DDnn |
Indigo GG RrBB DDnn |
Royal Purple GG RRBB DDnn |
Iridescent GG RrBb DDnn |
|
| DN | SS |   Cherry GG RRBb DNSS |
Scarlet GG RRbb DNSS |
Copper GG Rrbb DNSS |
Honey GG rrbb DNSS |
Emerald GG rrBb DNSS |
Ocean GG rrBB DNSS |
Indigo GG RrBB DNSS |
Royal Purple GG RRBB DNSS |
Iridescent GG RrBb DNSS |
| Sn |   Cherry GG RRBb DNSn |
Scarlet GG RRbb DNSn |
Copper GG Rrbb DNSn |
Honey GG rrbb DNSn |
Emerald GG rrBb DNSn |
Ocean GG rrBB DNSn |
Indigo GG RrBB DNSn |
Royal Purple GG RRBB DNSn |
Iridescent GG RrBb DNSn |
|
| nn |   Fuchsia GG RRBb DNnn |
Carnelian GG RRbb DNnn |
Tangerine GG Rrbb DNnn |
Gold GG rrbb DNnn |
Leaf GG rrBb DNnn |
Sky GG rrBB DNnn |
Cobalt GG RrBB DNnn |
Amethyst GG RRBB DNnn |
Rainbow GG RrBb DNnn |
|
| PD/NN | -- |   Fuchsia GG RRBb PD/NN |
Carnelian GG RRbb PD/NN |
Tangerine GG Rrbb PD/NN |
Gold GG rrbb PD/NN |
Leaf GG rrBb PD/NN |
Sky GG rrBB PD/NN |
Cobalt GG RrBB PD/NN |
Amethyst GG RRBB PD/NN |
Rainbow GG RrBb PD/NN |
| PN | nn |   Fuchsia GG RRBb PNnn |
Carnelian GG RRbb PNnn |
Tangerine GG Rrbb PNnn |
Gold GG rrbb PNnn |
Leaf GG rrBb PNnn |
Sky GG rrBB PNnn |
Cobalt GG RrBB PNnn |
Amethyst GG RRBB PNnn |
Rainbow GG RrBb PNnn |
| Sn |   Tulip GG RRBb PNSn |
Coral GG RRbb PNSn |
Apricot GG Rrbb PNSn |
Lemon GG rrbb PNSn |
Jade GG rrBb PNSn |
Aquamarine GG rrBB PNSn |
Azure GG RrBB PNSn |
Wysteria GG RRBB PNSn |
Opal GG RrBb PNSn |
|
| SS |   Tulip GG RRBb PNSS |
Coral GG RRbb PNSS |
Apricot GG Rrbb PNSS |
Lemon GG rrbb PNSS |
Jade GG rrBb PNSS |
Aquamarine GG rrBB PNSS |
Azure GG RrBB PNSS |
Wysteria GG RRBB PNSS |
Opal GG RrBb PNSS |
|
| PP | nn |   Tulip GG RRBb PPnn |
Coral GG RRbb PPnn |
Apricot GG Rrbb PPnn |
Lemon GG rrbb PPnn |
Jade GG rrBb PPnn |
Aquamarine GG rrBB PPnn |
Azure GG RrBB PPnn |
Wysteria GG RRBB PPnn |
Opal GG RrBb PPnn |
| Sn |   Rose GG RRBb PPSn |
Salmon GG RRbb PPSn |
Shell GG Rrbb PPSn |
Vanilla GG rrbb PPSn |
Mint GG rrBb PPSn |
Ice GG rrBB PPSn |
Cloud GG RrBB PPSn |
Lilac GG RRBB PPSn |
Pearl GG RRBb PPSn |
|
| SS |   Rose GG RRBb PPSS |
Salmon GG RRbb PPSS |
Shell GG Rrbb PPSS |
Vanilla GG rrbb PPSS |
Mint GG rrBb PPSS |
Ice GG rrBB PPSS |
Cloud GG RrBB PPSS |
Lilac GG RRBB PPSS |
Pearl GG RrBb PPSS |
|
| DD | SS |   Byzantine Gg/gg RRBb DDSS |
Chocolate Gg/gg RRbb DDSS |
Terra Cotta Gg/gg Rrbb DDSS |
Walnut Gg/gg rrbb DDSS |
Moss Gg/gg rrBb DDSS |
Peacock Gg/gg rrBB DDSS |
Dusk Gg/gg RrBB DDSS |
Raisin Gg/gg RRBB DDSS |
Jet Gg/gg RrBb DDSS |
| Sn |   Byzantine Gg/gg RRBb DDSn |
Chocolate Gg/gg RRbb DDSn |
Terra Cotta Gg/gg Rrbb DDSn |
Walnut Gg/gg rrbb DDSn |
Moss Gg/gg rrBb DDSn |
Peacock Gg/gg rrBB DDSn |
Dusk Gg/gg RrBB DDSn |
Raisin Gg/gg RRBB DDSn |
Jet Gg/gg RrBb DDSn |
|
| nn |   Violet Gg/gg RRBb DDnn |
Cinnamon Gg/gg RRbb DDnn |
Salamander Gg/gg Rrbb DDnn |
Latte Gg/gg rrbb DDnn |
Fern Gg/gg rrBb DDnn |
Myrtle Gg/gg rrBB DDnn |
Steel Gg/gg RrBB DDnn |
Grape Gg/gg RRBB DDnn |
Smoke Gg/gg RrBb DDnn |
|
| DN | SS |   Violet Gg/gg RRBb DNSS |
Cinnamon Gg/gg RRbb DNSS |
Salamander Gg/gg Rrbb DNSS |
Latte Gg/gg rrbb DNSS |
Fern Gg/gg rrBb DNSS |
Myrtle Gg/gg rrBB DNSS |
Steel Gg/gg RrBB DNSS |
Grape Gg/gg RRBB DNSS |
Smoke Gg/gg RrBb DNSS |
| Sn |   Violet Gg/gg RRBb DNSn |
Cinnamon Gg/gg RRbb DNSn |
Salamander Gg/gg Rrbb DNSn |
Latte Gg/gg rrbb DNSn |
Fern Gg/gg rrBb DNSn |
Myrtle Gg/gg rrBB DNSn |
Steel Gg/gg RrBB DNSn |
Grape Gg/gg RRBB DNSn |
Smoke Gg/gg RrBb DNSn |
|
| nn |   Heliotrope Gg/gg RRBb DNnn |
Toast Gg/gg RRbb DNnn |
Peach Gg/gg Rrbb DNnn |
Desert Gg/gg rrbb DNnn |
Olive Gg/gg rrBb DNnn |
Persian Gg/gg rrBB DNnn |
Slate Gg/gg RrBB DNnn |
Heather Gg/gg RRBB DNnn |
Stone Gg/gg RrBb DNnn |
|
| PD/NN | -- |   Heliotrope Gg/gg RRBb PD/NN |
Toast Gg/gg RRbb PD/NN |
Peach Gg/gg Rrbb PD/NN |
Desert Gg/gg rrbb PD/NN |
Olive Gg/gg rrBb PD/NN |
Persian Gg/gg rrBB PD/NN |
Slate Gg/gg RrBB PD/NN |
Heather Gg/gg RRBB PD/NN |
Stone Gg/gg RrBb PD/NN |
| PN | nn |   Heliotrope Gg/gg RRBb PNnn |
Toast Gg/gg RRbb PNnn |
Peach Gg/gg Rrbb PNnn |
Desert Gg/gg rrbb PNnn |
Olive Gg/gg rrBb PNnn |
Persian Gg/gg rrBB PNnn |
Slate Gg/gg RrBB PNnn |
Heather Gg/gg RRBB PNnn |
Stone Gg/gg RrBb PNnn |
| Sn |   Orchid Gg/gg RRBb PNSn |
Coffee Gg/gg RRbb PNSn |
Melon Gg/gg Rrbb PNSn |
Sand Gg/gg rrbb PNSn |
Lime Gg/gg rrBb PNSn |
Duck Egg Gg/gg rrBB PNSn |
Pigeon Gg/gg RrBB PNSn |
Lavender Gg/gg RRBB PNSn |
Silver Gg/gg RrBb PNSn |
|
| SS |   Orchid Gg/gg RRBb PNSS |
Coffee Gg/gg RRbb PNSS |
Melon Gg/gg Rrbb PNSS |
Sand Gg/gg rrbb PNSS |
Lime Gg/gg rrBb PNSS |
Duck Egg Gg/gg rrBB PNSS |
Pigeon Gg/gg RrBB PNSS |
Lavender Gg/gg RRBB PNSS |
Silver Gg/gg RrBb DPNSS |
|
| PP | nn |   Orchid Gg/gg RRBb PPnn |
Coffee Gg/gg RRbb PPnn |
Melon Gg/gg Rrbb PPnn |
Sand Gg/gg rrbb PPnn |
Lime Gg/gg rrBb PPnn |
Duck Egg Gg/gg rrBB PPnn |
Pigeon Gg/gg RrBB PPnn |
Lavender Gg/gg RRBB PPnn |
Silver Gg/gg RrBb PPnn |
| Sn |   Dawn Gg/gg RRBb PPSn |
Almond Gg/gg RRbb PPSn |
Blush Gg/gg Rrbb PPSn |
Champagne Gg/gg rrbb PPSn |
Gooseberry Gg/gg rrBb PPSn |
Seafoam Gg/gg rrBB PPSn |
Mist Gg/gg RrBB PPSn |
Thistle Gg/gg RRBB PPSn |
White Gg/gg RrBb PPSn |
|
| SS |   Dawn Gg/gg RRBb PPSS |
Almond Gg/gg RRbb PPSS |
Blush Gg/gg Rrbb PPSS |
Champagne Gg/gg rrbb PPSS |
Gooseberry Gg/gg rrBb PPSS |
Seafom Gg/gg rrBB PPSS |
Mist Gg/gg RrBB PPSS |
Thistle Gg/gg RRBB PPSS |
White Gg/gg RrBb PPSS |
Few simple example griffs here. Check the Anatomy Guide to see where all the body parts are for each breed. The 6 main ones are in linked pairs: base and additional body colour, ventral (inner) covert and flight feathers, and dorsal (outer) covert and flight feathers.
At conception, there's a 90% chance that the additional colour will inherit its 6 colour alleles from the base colour. So if the base is Scarlet, the additional will probably be Scarlet too. However the 2 shade alleles are independent, inherited from the parents' additional colours, so it may be a different shade of Scarlet.
In the other 10% of cases, the entire additional colour will be independently calculated according to the parents'. It might turn out completely different to the base. Tan and Chocolate? Nice. Midnight and Lime? Maybe not...
The 2 inner and 2 outer wing areas are similarly related. We believe ancient tribes selectively bred them to be this way, as the 'same colour, different shade' combos tend to look better than opposing colours. But occasionally, you may get babies with wildly clashing colours in all their body parts. Whether you'll find them attractive or hideous, who knows?!
| . | . | . |
| . | . | . |
| . | . | . |
| GG | Gg | gg | |
|---|---|---|---|
| s+s+ | . | . | . |
| s+s | . | . | . |
| ss | . | . | . |
| s-s | . | . | . |