PAUL HEARN
12-14-2005, 11:07 PM
Hello all,
Sex prediction in breeding Birds may well be possible.
Some years ago a very good friend of mine who is now a Champion Breeder and Panel Judge of Fife Fancy Canaries, chose to avoid wastage of Seed fed to his mixed collection of Foreign Finches, Quail, Grass Parakeets, Canaries and Budgies by feeding all of the Seeds seperately instead of mixtures, ie Canary Seed, Rape Seed, Hemp, Blue Maw, Niger, Sunflower Seed, White Millet, Pannicum Millet, Red Millet etc.
Over a long period of time he worked out the quantity of each Seed eaten with very little waste in each aviary at various times of the year.
When the balance was worked out he went on to breed various Species of Birds in good numbers, but with one huge difference.
I don't remember the exact figures, but for example if he bred thirty Zebra Finches then twenty five would have been hens, if he bred twenty Chinese Painted Quail then sixteen would be hens (as an example).:D
Initially we both put these unusual breeding results down to beginners luck, but a couple of years later there was an article published in Cage and Aviary Birds explaining the results of an American Lab Experiment which detailed much the same as my friend had done before.:shock:
The Lab experiment using Zebra Finches showed results as follows, when a restricted diet was provided more hens were produced, but when a more generous diet was provided, more cocks were produced.
If this was to occur in Nature, it seems that the more valuable hens are produced if there is a food shortage, but if food is plentiful then the higher number of cocks are bred.
Perhaps we as Aviculturists could use this to our advantage in producing a higher number of hen Birds in certain Species that are in danger of being lost to our Hobby?
But this could be a very risky option where Softbill Species are concerned, where the provision of Livefood is extremely important in rearing these Species of Birds.
Paul.
Sex prediction in breeding Birds may well be possible.
Some years ago a very good friend of mine who is now a Champion Breeder and Panel Judge of Fife Fancy Canaries, chose to avoid wastage of Seed fed to his mixed collection of Foreign Finches, Quail, Grass Parakeets, Canaries and Budgies by feeding all of the Seeds seperately instead of mixtures, ie Canary Seed, Rape Seed, Hemp, Blue Maw, Niger, Sunflower Seed, White Millet, Pannicum Millet, Red Millet etc.
Over a long period of time he worked out the quantity of each Seed eaten with very little waste in each aviary at various times of the year.
When the balance was worked out he went on to breed various Species of Birds in good numbers, but with one huge difference.
I don't remember the exact figures, but for example if he bred thirty Zebra Finches then twenty five would have been hens, if he bred twenty Chinese Painted Quail then sixteen would be hens (as an example).:D
Initially we both put these unusual breeding results down to beginners luck, but a couple of years later there was an article published in Cage and Aviary Birds explaining the results of an American Lab Experiment which detailed much the same as my friend had done before.:shock:
The Lab experiment using Zebra Finches showed results as follows, when a restricted diet was provided more hens were produced, but when a more generous diet was provided, more cocks were produced.
If this was to occur in Nature, it seems that the more valuable hens are produced if there is a food shortage, but if food is plentiful then the higher number of cocks are bred.
Perhaps we as Aviculturists could use this to our advantage in producing a higher number of hen Birds in certain Species that are in danger of being lost to our Hobby?
But this could be a very risky option where Softbill Species are concerned, where the provision of Livefood is extremely important in rearing these Species of Birds.
Paul.