everywhere i look for information on bird compatability some of the species of finchs are suggested not to be mixed wioth others, some just for the reason that they will cross breed.. what is wrong with that ? if i am just having them as pets, i plan on taking some of the zebras, if population gets out of control to the local pet store but i dont understand what the big deal is if a zebra mates with a society? and so on. i figure if they are happy then that is what i am trying for..
2006-06-30 16:35:15 · 4 answers · asked by smokingstonersweetheart 4 in Pets ➔ Birds
The main reason finch breeders frown on hybrids is because some species are so rare that cross breeding them could possibly be the death of the species.
Another reason is hybrids just don't seem to "fit" in anywhere. In my experience they are very weak, small birds with personalities that differ from each species. They usually have deformities such as blindness and don't seem to live as long. They always seem to get picked on and sometimes are never accepted by the flock. I have also seen this behavior with white finches. Birds that are so significantly different never really seem to have a place in a flock. They are also very difficult to find homes for if you later decide they are not compatible.
However, if you feel you are prepared for these possibilities and don't mind hybrids then I don't see anything wrong with it.
2006-07-01 14:07:51 · answer #1 · answered by oliviasmommy2002 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most folks worry about contaminating genes and 'dirtying a species gene pool so that the resulting crosses cannot live in the wild. There's a lot of other reasons, but that and the fact that the two different parents' genes aren't being used in areas like conservation are the main arguments.
My own opinions are that Hybridization does happen in the wild though rarely. As long as the original strains are kept pure, occasional hybridization is okay as long as it is severely controlled and documented. Red factor canaries and society finches are the result of hybridization, so it's not all bad ^.^
2006-07-01 01:03:43 · answer #2 · answered by white_ravens_white_crows 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason it's bad is that it is doing away with the pure species.
2006-07-01 10:15:48 · answer #3 · answered by popdop 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ermmmm........Can not comprehend
2006-06-30 23:39:52 · answer #4 · answered by Brandon... 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋