Hybridized

[NikiAndBeyond]

Upon reading the wikipedia description of cockatiels, I learned they can create hybrids with Galas to make "Galatiels". When I googled that to learn more, I found a page on a forum expressing outrage towards hybridization.

"Hybridizing endangered 'toos is not the right way to treat birds. Please don't do that. It's so wrong."

"Those poor hybrids!!! PLEASE dont do this!"

My question is why?.... How is that mistreatment of a bird? Sure, I understand the arguement against diluting the species, but it doesn't seem harmful to the individuals.

[Oscars Mom]

Did you see any pictures of them?

[Oviraptor]

You can see the video here: YouTube - galah cockatiel cross

The galah and the cockatiel mated naturally as the two were in an outdoor aviary together. Their owner had no intention of actually breeding them. It just...happened.

People seem frown upon the sort of thing as they feel that you're "polluting the gene pools" of the two species. What I don't understand is why they get so outraged while neither cockatiels nor galahs are in any sort of danger from becoming extinct.

I can understand people getting upset over breeders who intentionally cross endangered species though. However, it does happen naturally when birds are placed in aviaries though.

IMHO a hybrid deserves just a much love and care as any other bird.

[NikiAndBeyond]

Up At Six © Avian Chat Community - Complete resource for Aviculture, Pet Birds, Parrots, Macaws, Amazons, Cockatoos and Cockatiels! View topic - female lesser sulpher cockatoo

[NikiAndBeyond]

It just seems like saying breeding labradoodles is animal mistreatment. Even if they were endangered, it's not bad for the animals, and they're not being released into the wild to put the existing population in jeopardy.

[fluffy_stitch]

that seemed pretty tame compared to some of the threads about hybrids,i think everyone would agree that hybrids deserve the same care and attention as any bird but a lot of people think that it is just wrong to intentionally mix different types of birds just to make something pretty or unusual or just to see what happens,they arent mix and match toys,to me it seems like having a total disregard for the birds,labradoodles arent hybrids,all domestic dogs are the same species so all the different breeds are mutations of the same species,and as for it not being bad for them just think about all the skin,eye,ear,joint,temperament and other problems dogs suffer from because of breeding to get a particular looking dog,Just my opinion and not an attack on anyone elses :)

[Xen]

I just think if the animals are happy and loved and the babies are healthy... no harm done.

Do hybrids sell for less money than purebreds in general?

I don't have a hybrid and I've never seen one in person... I guess over here it's on a smaller scale, but some of the hybrids I've seen on here are the prettiest birds I've ever seen.

[anbrownucsd]

Dogs often get joint problems not because we cross breeds but because we INBREED in order to keep their species "pure".

I have never heard that a hybrid bird is any more unhealthy or unhappy then a pure breed, if they will breed with eachother then it IS natural. I don't know where all of the rage comes from anyway, I just hope it is never directed at the birds themselves.

[NikiAndBeyond]

Originally Posted by Xen

Do hybrids sell for less money than purebreds in general?

From what I saw, it's the opposite. They're hella expensive.

[fluffy_stitch]

any animal will try to follow its instincts to breed,they cant help it so it isnt natural when birds are intentionally put in cages or aviaries with a different species,i know some birds will occasionally breed with another species in mixed aviaries and in the wild but as far as i know most hybrids are intentionally bred.