Why are some people against hybrids?

Pookamama · Sep 3, 2012

The one reason I recall hearing is that the temperament is unpredictable.
But are there any other reasons? Seems every bird's exact temperament is unpredictable.

Molcan2 · Sep 3, 2012

I love your new avitar pic by the way, very cute. Ummm, to answer your question, i really think its truley a person's personal reason. I dont think there are any more 'genetic' problems than with non mixing. I agree with you on the temprament thing. Im sure in the wild there is the occasional mix up? I dont think there is a solid concrete answer one way or the other. My personal view is that its morally wrong but i dont think that the is anything other than personal opinion on this one. Its kind of like dogs i guess, im fine with the mixes that are already here but i wouldnt purposly mix two breeds together (but thats jus cuz of my beliefs).

Echo · Sep 3, 2012

Besides the fact that it is dangerous for Aviculture due to the fact that eventually the true species will be extinct, imagine having Hybrids all over and less and less true species: reproduction will be non existant as hybrids are sterile, so no parrots will be in our world in the future. Added to this, a hybrid is believed to have a shorter life expectancy due to possible birth defects sometimes not seen to the naked eye.

The life that we know with our parrots could be very short lived if hybridization was to increase tremendously.

Molcan2 · Sep 3, 2012

I dont agree with hybrids but im pretty sure that they arent sterile? Im not a hundered percent but i thought you could still breed them. For some reason i thought some macaw mixes had hybrid parents? I'll have to look it up.

kc_y0 · Sep 3, 2012

No, I don't think hybrids are sterile.. There are 3rd generation hybrids..

Pookamama · Sep 3, 2012

Well, it seems in the dog world while there are a lot of mix up in the breeds, the purebreds seem to just gain value in the eyes of people. Seeing as there are breeders against hybrids it doesn't seem a risk to the population. Is there a reason why the bird world wouldn't follow suit?

By the way, with hybrids I am thinking more hybrids of birds of similar species: amazons with amazons, macaws with macaws, etc. I don't know much about bird genetics but it seems that cross-species hybrids wouldn't be possible? Because they are really different, vs. dogs that are all dogs. Does that make sense? You can cross a dachshund with a chihuahua because both are dogs, but you couldn't cross a macaw with cockatoo because they aren't even in the same family? I could be totally wrong here, because like I said I don't know bird genetics, but I sure haven't heard of any!

oh and thanks for the compliment on the avatar!

kc_y0 · Sep 3, 2012

Macaws with macaws, I don't see a problem.

I love them personally. I wouldn't go putting a macaw with a cockatoo though LOL I don't think it would be possible.

luvmytooo · Sep 3, 2012

I dont think hybrids are sterile either....how could we get the Flame Macaw ?
But as for the question, my belief is if it will happen naturally in nature , then its fine.

But if two birds are bred in captivity that would never see each other in the wild , then Im against it.....just doesnt seem right to me.

Echo · Sep 3, 2012

kc_y0 said:
No, I don't think hybrids are sterile.. There are 3rd generation hybrids..

I should have clarified that if the parent species are very closely related the hybrids will be fertile. I find it unfortunate to have 3rd generation hybrid Conures for example. Even if closely related, genes carry different information particular to that specie on how an organism should look like and act and mixing them can affect each bird. To a point where we (people who study behavior, care etc.) won't be able to predict or meet the requirements that these hybrids may need.

However, some crosses will produce hybrid offsprings but those hybrids will be sterile. This is because the genes are too out of sync to make a viable reproductive system.

Now I don't work with Avian Genetics nor am I a scientist. However, what I have read on the subject has made me aware of the danger to the Aviculture to purposely breed for hybrids.

Aren't pure species good enough for us human that we have to create our own? I realize that it can sometimes happen by accident, however it is usually because of human intervention, be it a limited amount of mate selection in captivity or in the wild the decimation of many parrot species and choice of acceptable mate.

WharfRat · Sep 3, 2012

wholeheartedly against it unless it happens naturally in the wild. This reminds me of "designer" dog breeds, mankind has screwed up enough things on this planet already. Sorry, this is a sore subject for me and I feel pretty strongly about it.

horsesculpter · Sep 3, 2012

I understand that hybrids don't help preserve the pure species and tend to agree. We didn't breed our beloved hybrid Catalina and would never breed parrots. There are way to many birds in need of a home and ours was a rescue. Hybrids are not sterile if they are from the same genus and Catalina's are commonly used to breed. Catalina's are a cross between a blue and gold macaw and a Scarlet macaw, both from the genus Ara, but different species. If you crossed a blue and gold or scarlet with a hyacinth which is from the genus Anodorhynchus that offspring may be sterile. Not sure about that, but same genus different species crosses are not sterile?

Echo · Sep 3, 2012

I wish I new more about bird genetics, but even though 2 birds look alike, like the Macaws, it must still disturb the balance of the species.

Aviculturists have reported for example an over abundance of female Blue and Gold in captivity, where it is the norm for captive Macaws and other parrots to have more males. It shows that the Blue and Gold is the most hybridised Macaw. I have no idea why, I am just relying information, but that is their conclusion.

Even tiny differences can mean a huge gap in genetics.....

Pookamama · Sep 3, 2012

Very interesting. Ok, it all makes more sense now.

ConureCrazy · Sep 3, 2012

I once had seen a hahns that breeded with a jenday. I am totally against that. :/

kc_y0 · Sep 3, 2012

This is quite interesting information. Do macaw hybrid happens in the wild? I was under the impression they did (although probably very uncommon).

horsesculpter · Sep 3, 2012

I think hybrid macaws probably but rarely have happened in the wild when the species territory overlaps. Macaws mate for life. A Hahns and a Jenday may pair up but it is not possible for them to produce offspring.

JerseyWendy · Sep 4, 2012

Even though I find some hybrid Macaws just gorgeous to look at, I personally would never advocate crossing 2 breeds.

Just my $0.02.

henpecked · Sep 4, 2012

As a breeder i don't like the hybrids. I really hate polluting the gene pool. Panama Amazons are a good example. We'll never have new birds coming into the US, we only have what is here now. As these older imported pairs die off ( i just lost a 38 yr old male) I can't replace it . Many so called Pans are YCs or hybrids because of the lack of pure birds to pair with. One day in the not so distant future we won't have any true Pans, what a shame. I wish more breeders could have kept their lines pure when they had the chance. For me, i'll just do what little i can. I won't hybridize.

lene1949 · Sep 4, 2012

ConureCrazy said:
I once had seen a hahns that breeded with a jenday. I am totally against that. :/

Is that even possible?

lene1949 · Sep 4, 2012

Being very confused I did some research regarding hybrids vs crossbreeds... I found this about eclectus:

The Eclectus Parrot - Graham Taylor (Australia)

Why are some people against hybrids?

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