mutations in avairy birds.

05-05-2008

I'm going to be very politically incorrect here and you're all going to hate me, but as an aviculturist I can't be a hypocrite and say I dislike colour mutations of birds, because I breed them.

I agree that the natural wild-type should be preserved at all costs, and sensible breeders of mutations cross back to them throughout the breeding program to keep their birds healthy and to avoid too much in-breeding. But........

Jade Red-collared Lorikeets! Pastel Silver and Blue Lacewing Indian Ringnecks! Aqua Lutino Rainbow Lorikeets! Violet Masked Lovebirds! Opaline Redrumps! Ah, it does my old heart good to see them!

My descent into such depravity started about ten or twelve years ago when I innocently bought a pair of normal looking Fischer's Lovebirds from a breeder. When they started to breed, the variety of babies was amazing! Those parents were apparently "split" for a whole lot of mutations. Some of the young were normal looking, but from the same clutches of eggs came blues, limes, lutinos and even two albinos! A rainbow of beautiful little birds. Since then I've been lost to the Dark Side.

05-05-2008

If there's one mutation which I'd agree is more beautiful than the original form, I think it would be the Blue Ringneck Parakeet...

05-05-2008

I like the silver bahama pintail, But I normally oppose to Captive mutations...

05-05-2008

Actually, I would add that I think different colour mutations in domestic animals, be they mammals and birds are fine (as long as they not infringing on the animal's ability to feed/move etc.) We did used to keep fancy chicken's and I don't see anything wrong with that. Selective breeding in domestic animals seems OK, since that's how they were domesticated in the first place.

mutation birds
07-05-2008

Well everyone has different views on EVERYTHING??? So where to stand where to stand....

my beliefs are somewhere in the middle! i personally breed birds, a few mutations and mostly natural types.

the view that all mutations are wrong is just ludicrist - the whole reason nature makes 'mutants' is to see where that genotype lives on and reproduces, natural mutations live and do breed in the wild - many called "morphs" or "Phase" LOL - not a mutation, i dont know if White lions are a mutation or sub species or whatever - however they have originated from a tawny and lived on in the wild quite happily (until humans). Morphs occur in many native birds such as bush thick knees, birds of prey (raptors and owls), different colored heads on gouldian finches (black, red, orange), and in reptiles naturally occuring black and brown phase diamond pythins exist, and red, orange, grey, yellow phase bearded dragons occur in the wild.

my problem with captive birds and reptiles is that it is very hard nowdays to go out to a pet shop and buy a pair of NATURAL GREEN INDIAN RINGNECKS. 99% of them are split to blue or yellow or both, or cinnamon, or lacewing, or whatever. One of the most common mutations is blue and it is ressesive gene meaning both males and females carry the gene - and lutino (yellow) is sex linked which means only green males carry the gene, so wow you will get a pure green girl - however many females then have the blue gene - so you cant win. I believe this is now very common with budgies, red rump parrots, eastern rosellas, princess parrots, turquosine parrots, zebra finches, benglese mankin, java sparrow, cockatiels, quaker parrots and lovebird varieties. eventully reptile collections will end up much the same.

That budgie mentioned above should be able to live a life like that if the person is able to properly cater for his needs, many domestic animals have extravigent needs to thrive - ie. persian cats - brushing, clipping, wiping eyes, nose, prone to cat flu and PKN, however if you can provide an appropirate home for that animal. Angora rabbits, brushing daily (usually more than once), clipping, nail clipping etc.. you gat the idea. However if that budgie is in obvisous pain it should be euthanasied. i personally have seen one of these budgies in the flesh, they are really interesting and very wierd.


Albino mutations occur far and wide in all tpes of speceis - debaitable weather good idea for captive breeding them, many zoos in Australia exhibit albino speciemens, inc Kookaburras, Tammar Wallabies, Red Roos, Wallaroos, buffalow, parrots & other aviary birds, blue tongue lizards, corn snakes.

Hypermelanistic mutations are also displayed at zoos, prime exaple Black panther (leopard or jaguar), Black blue tongue lizards, corn snakes,

Leucistic Mutations also found in zoos, white lions, crocodiles, possums (golden).

Other wierd mutations displayed in zoos in australasia - white and cinnamon tigers, blue magpie, pied black swan, cinnamon and pied common wombats, white deer, albino chinchillas and albino hedgehogs, koala with blue eyes, albino koala (amercia) had one in australia in the 1970s...

Hybreds are also exhibited in australasian zoos - wheather these are politcally correct or not also debaitable..... Tigon (Tiger was father and mother was a lion) at canberra (had two), Corella x Galahs at featherdale, several tiger sub species hybreds.


Food for thought - im keen to know more on others views?

07-05-2008

It's just personal opinion. Like i said in the first post. The natural form of Princess parrots are prettier than any mutation, in my opinion.
P.S Danale what are you keeping at the moment?

My Collection
07-05-2008

the only mutations i have are a few whiteface and pastelface cockatiels, however i just got rid of most of them, and cinnamon scaley brested lorikeets, and an olive rainbow... and i have two hybred cockatoos... all the rest of my collection are natural colored... what have you got boof???

07-05-2008

no birds just fish

09-05-2008

And no Reptiles LOL

09-05-2008

slow and steady.

09-05-2008

Maybe start with something "small" and then move to bigger things, lol

11-05-2008

Saw an advert. in an Aussie avicultural magazine for a Blue and Gold Macaw without any blue! Just gold all over!
Normal Blue and Golds in Australia sell for thousands of dollars each, but to buy that mutation you would have to sell your home.

11-05-2008

In the same magazine I saw a picture of a lutine macaw, not sure if it was the same as what ARA saw. It was a case of a mutation that definately wasn'y as attractive as the original wild colour.

11-05-2008

[ of a mutation that definately wasn'y as attractive as the original wild colour.[/QUOTE]


Only a personal opinion, but I have NEVER seen a mutation in any animal that is as attractive as the original wild colour. And, yes, I can appreciate the detailed knowledge of genetics and the incredible patience that must have gone into breeding birds like the Violet Indian Ringneck BUT the inbreeding that is necessary to perpetuate some of these mutations leaves me cold.

Before anyone kicks me where it hurts I'll readily admit that I am out of step with a significant percentage of the population on this. Just my personal opinion.

11-05-2008

Danale, I heard that someone had bred a galackatiel. A cross between a galah and a cockatiel.