If you were just starting with budgies, with the goal of learning genetics, where would you start?

 

I have 4 yellow based birds, 2 of them are pieds. Twitter is 1 of the pieds, and I doubt that I'll breed him.

I have 2 white based, I think they'd be considered greys.

I am buying an albino hen in early December. She'll complete the 3 pair.

 

However, compared to some of the birds I've seen on the forum, they're pretty plain. I'd like to add a mutation that will dress up my lines a bit. I'm hoping to be able to sell them, what does the public want? My goal will be to offer hand tamed birds, so that is one thing in their favor, but some people will want specific colors. (I tend to be biased toward the white based birds, are other people as well?) I suppose part of the answer will depend on the community -- I'm in Michigan, in the US, if that makes a difference.

 

The albino is the only 1 that I know the parentage for. Mom is a blue. Dad is an albino. I am going to ask about grandparents, to see if I can identify any recessive traits she might carry.

 

Any traits that you might suggest combining with the albino?

Hi, as a complete novice at genetics, if you read through the "pinned" articles at the beginning of this forum. Mutations/Varieties/genetics. There is a wealth of information within those topics. I'd start there. I breed pet types so haven't delved into genetics much.It gets very involved so if you can grasp the basics, you could work up from there.Good luck hope you get further into it than I have as yet. L.O.L

Thanks Robyn,

 

I've been studying the pinned articles on mutations, as well as other sites. I am getting the basics, but I thought if I could add the right pair to my program, that it would help bring home some of what I've read. As you said, it gets very involved.

 

For instance, I know that yellow base dominates white. so if I cross my greens or pieds with my greys, I'll get greens or pieds, and no white based birds, unless the parents are split. I have the pied dominance thing sort of figured out. I was able to confirm that the albino I'm getting will be a hen, because or her parentage...

 

I guess part of my struggle is that I'm in an apartment, and can't have a lot of birds to experiment with.

Look for a cock bird that has multiple mutations, something like yellowface opaline spangle dominant pied violet would give you a great range of colours over a white based hen, but finding one might be a problem lol. I find that blue and yellowfaced pieds are always very popular with most people.

Cheers Jenny

Hi If Your going into breeding pet birds.. Keep away from the grey's. They will dull down your colours.

There are two types of Pied.... Recessive's, have more white or yellow feathers in the blue & green series

Dominant , have equal or more green or blue feathers. Recessive paired to normal will give all normal

babies. Dom, Pied X to normal will have some of each. Green series is Dom to blue. As no bird can be

guaranteed to be pure bred there can be no guarantee' s re, colour of babies.

To breed birds for the pet market I suggest you visit pet shops & see what colours are good sellers &

buy birds to breed that colour... I would agree with Jenny but I'm afraid you would be looking for a needle

in a haystack ......B.J.

I'll have to look at the sex, but Pet Smart has multiple mutation birds all the time. They've always seemed healthy would I be insane to buy from them? And what if I end up with a hem? Did you recommend a cock just for the albino hen I'm getting or is it easier to pass mutations from the cock?

 

I guess I'll start my search! Thanks for the input.

Hi. I was thinking more of the smaller pet shops. If you visit regular you will see adults for sale occasionally.

You have to take care wherever you buy your birds. Never buy on impulse. Some breeders sell off breeding

stock to make room for youngsters which they keep as next years breeders....Buy the extra bird & breed from

what you have. You could always switch them around if your not happy with the chicks colours.....B.J.

Do you have the space for an extra brd plus young (even if for a while)??

 

I agree with Hilly, blue, yellowfaces and pied seem to be popular with people looking for pets but others are happy with normals if the bird is well behaved and happy to be with them.

I think I can add 2 more to the cage and be okay. The cage is 6 feet (just under 2 meters) by 3 feet high by 18inches. I have 2 more cages available, 1 yard x 24 inches x 18 inches. The other slightly smaller. I plan to use the smaller cages as breeders and for babies. The large cage can also be divided so I can have 3 breeder cages .

 

I'll have to check Grand Rapids, there is at least 1 bird store there, and probably some smaller pet stores. After that one in TN took advantage of me with Twitter I'm a bit reluctant. I'm not nearly as naive as I was a month ago though.

 

What do you all think of crossing exhibition budgies with regular? Tweet is a cross, slightly larger than my others, playful, really nice personality. The breeder I 'm getting the albino from has spangle in her English budgies. Not sure about they yellow face though.

 

The apartment rules allow for 2 cages - 1 for my canary and the big 1 for the budgies. But they will allow me to use more cages on a temporary basis. The key is that everyone that I keep must fit comfortably without crowding in the 2 cages they allow.

Edited November 11, 201212 yr by ima.snowbird

Hi Bird Junkie

So Recessive paired to normal will give all normal babies.,

Colours, Sky Blue Cobalt etc ?, The recessive can not be split for yellowface, clearwing etc etc that will show ?.

Even when those normal blue babies are bred later.

Thanks

Val

sky, Cobalt and Mauve are due to a dark factor - if a parent has one it can be given to half the offspring.

Yes a recessive pied can be split for other recessive genes which is bred to the same genes will appear in the nest.

 

What do you all think of crossing exhibition budgies with regular?

Personal choice on how you like your budgies to look. I rather like the slightly larger bird but with slim line feathers.

 

 

A Guide to Colour Mutations and Genetics in Parrots (Hard Cover)

THE PARROT GENETICS BIBLE

 

Avian geneticist, Dr Terry Martin BVScpresents this 296-page title featuring 700 colour photographs gathered from the contributions of international specialist parrot mutation breeders. The comprehensive text on bird genetics, mutations and combinations of mutations is both approachable and easily understood

 

Over 80 species of parrot are discussed with numerous examples of breeding outcomes to assist the breeder in understanding how various mutations can be bred and developed. The underlying objective throughout this book is Terry's attempt to standardise the naming of colour mutations internationally. All in all a compelling read that is a major reference source

 

Presented in three sections, Terry Martin takes the reader through a comfortable and absorbing introduction to Understanding the Basic Principles of Mutations and Colour Genetics in the first two parts

Part three is for the adventurous, being the technical manifest of genetics in parrots

The information has been supported throughout with a plethora of colour photography

 

CONTENTS

Part 1

Understanding Mutations

Understanding Basic Genetics

Establishment of New Mutations

Primary Colour Mutations

Key to Naming Mutations

Part 2

Combinations of Mutations

Part 3

Scientific Investigation of Colour Morphs/Loci for Colour in Parrots

Combination Colours

Index of Primary Mutations by Species

 

I Highly recommend geting this one if you are interested in Genetics. I have a copy and it helps.

Thanks, Daz, It sounds good, I'll check it out. Was it written with blondes in mind? I swear, sometimes I feel so dense!

 

Diana

Thanks, Daz, It sounds good, I'll check it out. Was it written with blondes in mind? I swear, sometimes I feel so dense!

 

Diana

 

lol there is a section in the back of the book that is very technical but most of the book isn't bad.

I got my copy from a pet store.

yep love that book.

Here here. Very good book but takes some effort to read and understand.

 

Start with easy basic stuff to read like understanding recessive genes and how they work, then sex linked recessive genes etc etc. Look at the varieities you like first (you tend to learn more when you are interested in something in particular).

 

Lot of info on the web if you look.

 

Most of all - have fun! It's a fascinating subject.

 

 

 

A Guide to Colour Mutations and Genetics in Parrots (Hard Cover)

 

THE PARROT GENETICS BIBLE

 

Avian geneticist, Dr Terry Martin BVScpresents this 296-page title featuring 700 colour photographs gathered from the contributions of international specialist parrot mutation breeders. The comprehensive text on bird genetics, mutations and combinations of mutations is both approachable and easily understood

 

Over 80 species of parrot are discussed with numerous examples of breeding outcomes to assist the breeder in understanding how various mutations can be bred and developed. The underlying objective throughout this book is Terry's attempt to standardise the naming of colour mutations internationally. All in all a compelling read that is a major reference source

 

Presented in three sections, Terry Martin takes the reader through a comfortable and absorbing introduction to Understanding the Basic Principles of Mutations and Colour Genetics in the first two parts

Part three is for the adventurous, being the technical manifest of genetics in parrots

The information has been supported throughout with a plethora of colour photography

 

CONTENTS

Part 1

Understanding Mutations

Understanding Basic Genetics

Establishment of New Mutations

Primary Colour Mutations

Key to Naming Mutations

Part 2

Combinations of Mutations

Part 3

Scientific Investigation of Colour Morphs/Loci for Colour in Parrots

Combination Colours

Index of Primary Mutations by Species

 

 

I Highly recommend geting this one if you are interested in Genetics. I have a copy and it helps.

 

My husband is getting me this book for Christmas!!