Species Breeding

[apatrimo94]

I've always wondered, is it possible, under the laws of genetics, to breed parrots that are different but same species, and have them rear young. I don't mean like a macaw with an African grey (As much as I would like to see that). But maybe something like a macaw with mini macaw. Some I've always wondered were:

-Different conures breeding (ex: Sun Conure w/Green Cheek)
-Different cockatoos (ex: Citron Crested w/Triton)
-Macaw with mini macaw (B&G w/Severe Mini)
-Cockatiel and Parakeet (They are both from the same ancestor, so could they breed?)
-CAG w/TAG
-Different colored Senegals

Because if it was possible, we might get some fascinating combinations and other colors.

 

[Mel]

Definately - Major Mitchell X Galahs are not uncommon here, Ecky Hybreds of the different subspecies - mostly due to the closeness in looks of the sub-species & inexperienced breeders. There was even a Galah X Cockateil bred here in Oz - not purposely, they were sharing an avairy. Whether the young can reproduce is a different story, I know the Eckys can but unsure about the others

I guess the big issue that arises is keeping gene-pools pure

 

[greycloud]

Just like wing clipping, hybrid breeding is a hot topic. Sometimes accidents do happen and sometimes bird species are mixed and bred on purpose. Some breeders are looking for personality traits of each bird and sometimes it is a color issue. Here is an excellent link with pics. If you click on each picture it will tell you the two species that were bred. I always try and guess before I look. LOL!
Hybrid Parrots - a set on Flickr

 

[apatrimo94]

Wow, on the link you gave me, there's a macaw/conure hybrid. So with that, could it be possible to have different species mutations then? Like an CAG with a macaw, or cockatiel with a conure, or cockatiel with parakeet?

 

[Aussie Ben]

Hybrid Parrots - a set on Flickr

Oh my, WOW! Thanks for the link

Looks like it really is a hot topic though, with many different opinions. It does seem a little un-natural to do this sort of thing deliberately, but then again i don't know all the facts.

 

[apatrimo94]

Yeah, I don't want to make it a bad thing, but if it was possible, imagine some new species and colors we'd get.

 

[Birdamor]

No, mini-macaws can breed with conures because they are closely related. So much so that some people (me included) think that they should be reclassified. But you can't breed, say, a CAG with an ekkie.

 

[HRH Di]

Personally, if it can happen in nature...go for it. If the 2 species would have no chance in nature to ever get together, either due to geography or temperment, I think it's a bad idea. But that's just my opinion.

Most cross species hybridization results in a beautiful animal, but one with severe genetic-related health issues. Think lions and tigers. The natural habitats of these animals are on separate continents, yet some "experts" have hybridized them. A male tiger w/ a female lion or liger suffers from giantism and it's associated health issues. A female tiger and male lion or tigon suffers from the opposite, dwarfism and all of those associated health issues. A Liger website actually says: Enjoy the site and I hope you fall in love with the liger, even if you don’t agree with the science… remember it’s not the liger’s fault.

Well, duh, it's the doofus human's fault.

FRemember, nature knows best.

 

[apatrimo94]

No, mini-macaws can breed with conures because they are closely related. So much so that some people (me included) think that they should be reclassified. But you can't breed, say, a CAG with an ekkie.

So, that means geography plays an important role too? I mean, conures and macaws are from South America.
I saw that it was done with a cockatiel and a galah to make a galatiel. What about a cockatiel and parakeet? They're both from Australia and are closely related.

 

[Colorguarder08]

Cockatiels and Parakeets are not a good idea since well Parakeets will attack Cockatiels and it would not happen in the wild well maybe it would but it's unlikely. Personally I'd like to see a Coral billed Pionus and a Dusty Pionus cross bred. Correct me if I'm wrong but I do believe a Greenwing Macaw is the cross between a Scarlet Macaw and a Military Macaw.

 

[apatrimo94]

A greenwing is not a hybrid macaw. It's a pure-bred. I'm not sure what the scarlet/military hybrid is though.

 

[Colorguarder08]

Oh ok. Well there is some hybrid of a Scarlet and Military Macaw since a lady who owns an bird store in the next county over was telling me about it and how she had a few of them and such. But I confused it so now I know.

 

[Bobby34231]

I believe a Scarlet and a Military Hybrid would be a Shamrock, I could be wrong though........

 

[greycloud]

You are correct, it is a shamrock. One thing to remember is that it depends on how the matchup is made. An example would be a male scarlet and female military. It would be larger, look more like the scarlet and have more characteristcs of the red wing, personality included. Switch it around with the male a military and female a scalet and you have a little smaller bird, some different coloring and a military personality. Here is a great link where you can click on each hybrid. It tells you what two birds are bred and what they look like as well as personality.
http://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/macaws/HybridMacaws.phphttp://animal-world.com/encyclo/birds/macaws/shamrock2.php
Of course if we got into color mutations that's a whole nother headache!!

 

[apatrimo94]

What about a parakeet and a cockatiel?

 

[Ratzy]

No, mini-macaws can breed with conures because they are closely related. So much so that some people (me included) think that they should be reclassified. But you can't breed, say, a CAG with an ekkie.

So, that means geography plays an important role too? I mean, conures and macaws are from South America.
I saw that it was done with a cockatiel and a galah to make a galatiel. What about a cockatiel and parakeet? They're both from Australia and are closely related.

Nah, cockatiels are members of the cockatoo family thats why they were able to hybridise. Budgies aren't closely related at all!! You wouldn't be able to breed them.

 

[Bobby34231]

What about a parakeet and a cockatiel?

I think those two species are to geneticly far apart for that to happen