Crossbreeding conures and quakers

[skippersmom]

Hi, I'm new to this site but am thrilled to have found it. I have a 2 year old male sun conure. My mom has a female sun conure and a male quaker, both about 2 yrs as well. My question is- the quaker and the female conure have been raised together since each was about 6 mos old. The female is now building a nest. I am wondering if it is possible for her to have viable babies by the quaker. We have put the 2 conures together and they get along famously, but it just makes the quaker insanely jealous, so we stopped doing that. Mom really loves the idea of sweet little chicks- but I didn't think this could really happen.
Any one?

Thanks!

[Lola Plus 10]

i dont know why you would even concider that kind of cross breeding. DONT DONT DONT! allow the quaker and conure to breed. take away nesting materials... Why are you even providing nesting materials in the first place?

Wheres Monica? shes good at this type of question.

[Monica]

There may very well be hybrid quakers, since there ARE 3 subspecies of the quaker. However, there are no documented cases of quakers hybridizing with another species, so it's unlikely that it's possible.

Whether or not it actually is possible, breeding SHOULD NOT be encouraged between these two species, let alone in a female bird, as things such as egg binding, and a lack of calcium due to laying eggs can occur. Breeding birds is more like a full time job, 24/7, not a hobby to take part in during only part of the day. One must take into account that the parents might abandon the chicks, and if so, they will need to be handraised round the clock, even as much as every 2 hours, even during the middle of the night. Issues not only with parents not caring for chicks, they could also attack the chicks. And if one is not familiar with handraising chicks, the chick could get crop burn, an impacted crop, yeast infections, etc.

Breeding birds is something that needs to be researched extensively before even trying to attempt to breed two birds. On top of this, one can not just stick two birds together and expect them to breed like in dogs. Most parrots form "life-time" bonds, like humans. If your mother is seriously interested in breeding, should know that she could possibly loose her companions as they would rather be more interested in their partner, and protection their nest. She would also have to get both birds a proper mate of their own species, and of the same age, if not a bit older. She would have to learn from a breeder or avian vet how to properly handraise chicks, and be able to financially afford an emergency vet in the case that something happens to one of the parents or even the chicks.

My point is, breeding should not be taken lightheartedly.