September 28, 2021
Parblue fisher lovebirds X black mask fisher
Can we cross bread parblue fisher and black mask fisher (both ring eyes birds) and what about their babies would be normal or hybrid and not breed further?
Question:
Answer:
Hi Safi,
A Fischer’s Lovebird and Black-Masked Lovebird are two different species. Your bird is either a Black-Masked lovebird, or if it is a Black-Masked Fischer’s, then it is already a hybrid – a cross between a Fischer’s and a Black-Masked Lovebird. When you breed two different species of birds together, this is called a hybrid. Serious breeders and conservationists do not believe in this practice. Hybrid can have serious genetic flaws and can appear to be a pure species, causing an unknowing person to accidentally breed it with a pure species.
You can also have what is called a mutation. A mutation can occur in any bird species. It is a genetic defect that results in abnormal coloring. With the small species that are easier to breed, people take a mutation and breed it to try to get it to happen again. All color mutations begin with a lot of inbreeding, because it starts with one bird that must be bred with related birds to get the same mutation again. Because a mutation is a genetic flaw, and all mutations are based on inbreeding, mutations are not as healthy as pure species in general. However, they are very popular due to their unusual colors or markings.
If you breed your birds, you are breeding a mutation with a hybrid. You can expect the offspring to be less healthy. It’s hard to know what the background is for most mutations, so you won’t know what the offspring will look like. Hybrids and mutations are generally fertile, but again, you are breeding inferior birds for their appearance, and not for good health or longevity. Many mutations or hybrids only live 1/4 to ½ the lifespan of a pure species with good genetics.
Thank you for asking Lafeber,
Brenda
