Hybrid 101

[gator51]

hybredizing should be completely ABOLISHED,period it does NOTHING for the species and and IMO any breeder who knowingly does this IS NOT a good breeder,and I would tell people NOT to even buy for this type of breeder.

[plumasverdes]

I agree with you, ManyFeathers. I think that breeders should be (to an extent) regulated. For example, I went to Petsmart the other day, just to look, and they were selling 2 birds as "Green Cheek Conures". One was a GCC but it was obvious, esp. by comparing the two birds, that one was a hybrid. You normally see macaws as being hybridized but it is fairly common in Conures as well. The bird was a Maroon Belly/GCC hybrid which you could tell because the tail feathers were both red and green, the head was gray but turned to green, etc. Most new bird owners, even if they were good ones, wouldn't notice. I wonder if the large-scale breeding facility that produced those birds could even tell a Maroon Belly from a GCC.

It wouldn't be such a problem if birds that were hybridized for the pet industry stayed pets, but the way it is going currently, many pets become breeders when they begin to mature and people don't know how to deal with it. Until birds can be spayed and neutered like dogs and cats, it is my opinion that we shouldn't be breeding hybrids.

[Amanda]

I have recently purchased an alexandrine. During my research I read that alexandrines have been paired with ringnecks to produce lutino alexandrines. Obviously these birds are smaller than alexandrines. I also read on the internet about blue alexandrines being available. I was going to look into them further, in the interest of maybe one day getting one, but do not want one if it is just a partbred ringneck (because then I would just get a blue ringneck). Does anyone know about these birds? Is the colour a mutation or just the mixing with other coloured birds.

[BirdzRmylife]

Very well said Nancy!!!

[aussieparrotchic]

In Australia (im not sure about aslewhere) people breed galahs with corellas and while the babies are extremely beautiful most of the offspring are infertile. I kinda bleeive that theis is natures way of telling us something its like the tigons at Melbourne zoo they are a lion cross tiger which should never and would never happen in the wild and therefore are all infertile. I myself own a cockaboo which is 25%sulpher crested cockatoo and 15% naughty 3 year old and 60 % snuggle bunny and I wouldnt trade him for anything ( even with his pbfd)

[Birdmaniac1990]

What would i get if i crossed a sun conure and a green cheek nanday conure?

[peeker]

Originally Posted by Birdmaniac1990

What would i get if i crossed a sun conure and a green cheek nanday conure?

Is the second one a green cheek conure or a nanday conure? They are two different birds.

[carriesb]

All I know is Melissa that macaw is lovely so pretty!!!!

[Skyebirdsmom]

Nancy, I hope you also post how NOT RIGHT it is to purposely create hybrids. And how it screws up the gene pool of the birds.
Thanks,
Linda & HRC~[b]

[Skyebirdsmom]

Originally Posted by Many Feathers

I think all exotic bird breeders should be govermentally regulated and have to pay fines if they produce over a certain amount of babies a year, except for the highly endangered species. There is a serious overpopulation problem in this country and thousands and thousands of neglected, unwanted and/or abused birds to prove it. It is a serious problem. Hybridization does not hold a candle to the breeders who overproduce without concern for the life or quality of the life of the little beings they bring into this world for money, solely for selfish reasons & profit alone. Baby pushers should be controlled. There are too many unwanted adult birds. The public needs to be educated about the proper care and needs of birds. It is a crying shame that more adult and disabled birds are not given loving homes or are willingly adopted and wanted. They need love too and have a right to a good life. The greedy breeders who brought them into this world should be held responsible for the helpless little lives they have brokered for the almighty dollar... but instead, pet shops and breeders just keep pushing babies on unqualified & unsuspecting buyers who buy into the BS that baby birds make better pets. Not so! They grow up and when they arent cute little babies any more what do people do with them? Think about it. Breeding is a crime!

OH HOW I AGREE with you!!!!!! I personally think breeding sucks, there are so many abused, unloved, neglected birds out there...we don't need more, we need more people to love what is unloved!
Hugs,
Linda & HRC~