We were discussing our budgies and from our experience with zebra finches, and a few other finches, there are some types you should not breed back to themselves. Some say you shouldn't breed crested to crested as the double factor ones dis. That's the sort of thing we were wondering about. His question is:

 

Are there any lethal factor genes in budgies?

There has been a long held belief in a lethal gene involving the breeding of DF violets, or violet to violet. I dont know about this. BUT, in saying this I had a DF violet hen who was bred to a visual violet cock and I had all kinds of trouble trying to keep the resulting violet babies alive. My final end result was I saved about 25% of each clutch of babies. I dont know if the lethal violet gene is based on fact. I did however find this article on the subject

 

http://www.budgerigars.co.uk/genetics/ques.../question5.html

As with Kaz, I have heard of a lethal gene but many breeders have their own opinions on what it is.

 

Thanks for the link Kaz, very interesting.

Edited October 12, 200717 yr by Daz

thanks for the link.. a very interesting article