The Cockatiel Connection Itmaybe a distinct advantage if one is able to locate a stud ofCockatiels which the owner has been linebreeding. By beginning with linebred stock, much of the work will have already been done. Breeders choose to linebreed because Establishing a Cockatiel they wish to set certain visual charac­ teristics in their stock, e.g., physical attrib­ utes such as size, color and markings, crest length, etc.; or non-tangible traits Aviary II such as fertility, hardiness, personality, etc. by Linda S. Rubin By purchasing linebred birds, these AFA Contributing Editor on Cockatiels desirable characteristics may have al­ (All Rights Reserved) ready been set in the line, and one may expect to produce a majority of young Selecting Stock Linebreeding which will carry such characteristics outwardly. Over time, linebreeding can Whether one plans to produce The second approach, andone com­ help to carry on attributes one is striving Cockatiels solely for the hobby, pet monly employed when raising semi­ to maintain. Only an occasional out­ trade, or exhibition circuit, the thought­ domesticated species such as the cross, or unrelated bird, may be neces­ ful selection of viable breeding stock Cockatiel, is the systematic mating ofre­ sary to rejuvenate bloodlines. If one chosen from robust bloodlines is key to lated birds. The goal ofsuch a program wishes to reproduce Cockatiels which establishing any successful Cockatiel is to product uniformity within the stud carry a family resemblance and have stud. It is advisable to begin wisely by while yielding offspring which retain certain highly valued characteristics set securing good foundation stock. Such the superior qualities oftheir parents or in theirlines, thenonemustconsiderlin­ individuals should be selected on the family strains. This method of pairing ebreeding. basis ofhealth, appearance, and family back distantly related relatives, or line­ bloodlines, if possible. Healthy indi­ breeding, has been routinely utilized Selective Breeding viduals immediately attract attention. over the years by both successful hob­ Selective breeding is one method of They display a sleek tightly-feathered byists and breeders ofexhibition stock. producing uniform family resemblance appearance, bright eyes, and exude vi­ However, most breeders make the among individuals. Selective breeding tality. Often times, such outward ap­ effort to distinguish between linebreed­ is the deliberate process ofchoosing in­ pearance is referred to within the Fancy ing, i.e., the breeding back of less dividuals whovisually demonstrate one as "condition". Top condition generally closely related relatives, e.g., niece to or more attributes which the breeder goes hand in hand with good health and uncle, grandchild to grandparent, wishes toset in a line that will beevident such birds should demonstrate vigor, cousin to cousin, etc., and that of in­ in future generations. enthusiasm, and activity. breeding, i.e., closer unions usually de­ The selective breeding ofCockatiels fined as the breedingtogetherofbrother usually dovetails a linebreeding pro­ Today, aviculturists are faced with a to sister. More rigorous proponents gram and may at some point include numberofbreedingtechniques ranging often include the mating ofoffspring to one or more attempts at inbreeding, from the simplest selection methods to opposite sex parent, and the pairing to­ usually under a special set of circum­ more elaborate and intricate diagrams gether of halfsibblings, under the stances. Such conditions might include to follow. There are, however, essentially stricterdefinition ofinbreeding. ridding individuals ofhidden traits (e.g., two majorchoiceswhenapproachingthe While inbreedingmaybe a beneficial bringing serious faults to the surface), breedingofmost livestock. tool to beusedunderveryspecial condi­ pursuing hidden characteristics, or set­ tions by the skilled aviculturist, it should ting valuable qualities in a line which The first approach is the planned not be practiced indiscriminately by the otherwise might not be obtainable pairing together of unrelated individu­ less informed, or novice breeder. How­ through alternative matings (e.g., rare als to produce as large and divergent of ever, linebreeding can be an excellent color mutations, although every other type, including the production of per­ and responsible system in which to cre­ avenue should be exhausted). haps some outstanding individuals. ate a family strain orstud ofbirds. When Although selective breeding may be Such a practice might be quite appropri­ practiced correctly, such a method will practiced with unrelated outcrosses, ate for undomesticated species such as produce family lines demonstrating such matings of unrelated stock will in most psittacines, passeriformes, and very specific attributes, qualities, and no way guarantee that such selected certainly threatened or endangered uniform family characteristics, which qualities will be inherited as dominant species. The goal is to assemble as var­ are immediately recognizable as inher­ characteristics in future generations. ied and diverse a collection ofgenes as ent to that line. Without linebreeding it This is why experienced breeders of possible from which to base the future would be impossible to form a strain of Cockatiels will advise against purchas­ generations of a particular species. Or, birds, attain consistent high quality, uni­ ing birds from too many sources, how­ put another way, carefully stocking all formity, and other desirable qualities. It ever excellent the individual birds may genes available to a species in its "future is not a "hit or miss" venture, but rather a be. By using birds from numerous lines bankofsurvival". carefully plannedenterprise. which are unrelated to each other, one

30 Janua1Y / Februa1Y 1995 will only breed a divergence oftype, ul­ verydistantrelatives or, betteryet, to unre­ carry the qualities you wish to keep in timately losing the original qualities ex­ lated individuals (Le., an outcross) who your line, working with these individu­ hibited. This scenario might be likened show good overall potential, until the als for several generations. Ifonewishes to that of having too many parts to a jig­ young producedcanbeassessed. to perpetuate such qualities, then one saw puzzle: some parts may be useful, Ideally, each side of the breeding must resist the impulse to secure birds others not, and it takes the player that equation must be set for the same given outside of these bloodlines no matter much longer to complete. characteristic if one wishes that charac­ how excellent they might be. Or any Setting A Trait teristic to remain dominant in future gains made may easily be lost, propel­ Indeed, if such a characteristic is in­ generations. Detailed record keeping, ling the work accomplished several herited as a recessive, it may go unac­ journal notes, andthe mandatoryclosed steps backward in the overall breeding counted for should the breeder fail to banding of young using coded and program. recognize its mode of inheritance. At traceable legbands is essential in keep­ By honestly assessing one's pro­ worst, suchheterozygous splits maynot ing track ofsuch progress. gress, the breeder will know when it is be usedcorrectlyin future breedingpro­ Establishing A Line time to bring in an outcross. In the grams and the selected trait may, to the By working with unrelated individu­ meanwhile, there is still the challenge of puzzlement of the breeder, ultimately als one will only continue to breed dis­ working on one or more lines, and cre­ become lost. similar birds, losing the originalqualities ating new lines before the next step is When attempting to set a trait or se­ the aviculturist is attempting to fix in his necessary. lect a characteristic, be it size, propor­ lines. However, breeding unrelated Forming A Stud tion, crest density, or depth and extent birds, or a divergence oftype, may be a Eventually, after one has succeeded of the facial mask, the superior quality good first step in creating a few out­ in establishing two ormore family lines, must be outwardly evident in at least standing individuals from which to base the goal is to combine the lines together one parent. However, should only one a family line, should none be available to form a strain. Such a collection offam­ parent be set for a given trait, and that from othersources. ily lines, now called a strain, have each trait is not completely dominant when However, the sustaining of such contributed their outstanding traits paired to another bird, the trait may be­ qualities, from generation to genera­ which will be ret1ected in future otf­ come recessive. tion, may only be accomplished spring. However, guardedcaution must The masking of a recessive gene through the systematic and purposeful be exercised against allowing any faults could easily occur should the partner breeding of related individuals. The to be inherited along with such positive chosen originate from an unrelated line overall goal is to produce individuals qualities. If the work is thorough and lacking a dominant gene for the same which demonstrate a uniformity within precise to begin with, such major faults trait. It could then take several genera­ the stud. Such esteemedqualities can be shouldnot be a problem. tions for the hiddentrait to resurface and basedeither on a particular sire, ordam, one will need to reset the qualities back and a system of linebreeding back to Individual strains may be noted for into the line. In these instances such that individual after several generations several outstanding characteristics qualities, if not carefully tracked, may may then be employed. which are limited to those "set" traits become recessive and possibly lost It is notunusual when anexceptional which the individual family lines con­ when working with partners outside of individual is used, e.g., an outstanding tributed. Such strains may vary accord­ the same strain, stud, orbloodlines. cock bird, that such a bird is paired with ingly and include any number of traits A well known adage among sea­ the top two or three hens the breeder worked on (e.g., large size, outstanding soned breeders is worth paying atten­ can secure. This beginning will enable color, ideal cheek patch shape, high fer­ tion to, and that is: "like produces like". the breederto protect andsecure the su­ tility, good parenting skills, large clutch There is little purpose to pairing related periorgenes ofthe cock bird, while pro­ size, andsoforth). With additional work individuals together if their visual quali­ ducing several clutches of young from completed on new family lines, fresh ties, not to mention their hidden traits which to choose for the continuance of strains may also eventually arise. Such (which will eventually have to be dealt the line and the eventual breeding back strains, or combinations of individual With), are in dire need ofimprovement. to this best cock on which the line is established lines from one aviary, are re­ Select individuals who have strengths in based. ferred to as a breeder's stud. The stud the qualities you wish to set. And only Interestingly, not all breeders who may continue to work with existing work with individuals who do not si­ maintain an aviaty necessarily practice lines orform new improvedstrains over multaneously display any major faults linebreeding, therefore one maywish to time. which may as easily be inherited along see the relatives ofany birds undercon­ Although not all breeders choose to with the good qualities, only to resur­ sideration to determine whether a fam­ develop family lines or strains, it is actu­ face later. ily resemblance does in fact exist. ally a simple matter to ascertain. Gener­ At the same time, heed the often well However, if none is found it is quite ally, one finds the birds throughout the repeated warning: "never pair two birds probable that linebreeding was not aviary will maintain a uniform family re­ together with the same fault". For exam­ practiced and bloodlines, even if line­ semblance and visually carry one or ple, it makes little sense to pair two well­ bredbyothers, mayhavecomefrom nu­ more desirable features or traits. One marked or colored birds together if they merous different sources. may even, on occasion, hear of a par­ are bothobviously lacking in size. Ifone is Select the top two or three studs you ticular avian attribute touted as coming unsure ofassessing the qualities ofa pair, wish to emulate, and only secure line­ from a particular aviary or strain. The then better to breed such birds to only bred individuals from these studs which feature(s) may be so recognizable, the

afa WATCHBIRD 31 Whiteface hen- Pearl

Whiteface male

ark a distin t that it i a ~ to gues A ntlclng a SOln of th olorful or not encouraged to continu to upgrade th riginating a iary. I110re difficult lTIutation are, if they the colorormarkings while maintaining don t po e the remaining 90 % of the the ize, proportion , shape, carriage, Raising Cockatiels for Exhibition neces ary qualities uch as ize, propor­ and crest, equal to that of oth r exhibi­ When fir t lecting tack it i be t to tions and shape, wing carriag , back tion birds. In th long run, if the ITIuta­ for go s 1 ction ba ed on color. This i lin deporting, cr t lengthand d nsity, tion continu to b rewarded ov r the difficult, sinc often tim s it is the delight f ath r condition, etc. (grant d, fiv of other propertie of the bird, then the in the ne Inutation, or ros -mutation th relnaining 90% is as ign d to the work on getting it bred up to standard, hich I11ay fir.. t ntic th fancier to pur- sho ca e), they eldoln can istently do will not b done. This has acHy been ue the '1rt ofe hibition.1-Io l' uch 11. d lnonstrated often enough in other ar­ '1 I -than-d irabl eI11pha i , if al- Occasionally the odd color or two ea ofthe Fancy. Ia ed, auld anI l' to hind l' th hich may b la king in oth r 'Ireas i put Cockatiel fancier who wi h to learn initialobj cti e of curina go d foun­ up on th Top Bench. Howev r, uch lTIOre on how tandards shouldcan ult dation to k. trend eldoln la t. Mo tnational soci ties both the Am rican Cockati 1 Soci ty Thi i a fair'l 111ent if onewere to which exhibit birds (e.g., the ociety of and the National Cockatiel ociety for consider that color AD rnarking fonn Parrot Breed rs & Exhibitors), denounc their specific written tandard. Al­ only 10% of U. . show tandard . And the awarding of show placement based though both ocieties use a weighted knowl dg abl judges point out th,lt in on rarity. uch an OCCUlT nce lTIay be scale as a guide, in actuality, th birds are both color and marking ,only 5% i ap­ popular in the short-run, but tends to de­ judg d by a one-on-one direct cOITIpari- plied to ard depth and uniformity, lay the developlTIent towards the tand­ on process. This i why the full l' ading while the reI11aining 5% is di tribut d to­ ard ith tl1e color mutation in qu stion. of the how standard are much more ward degr and can i t n y. Th n, Th U. . tandards lnaintain that all beneficial whenev r electing on s there i the other 90% ofthe bird. tTIutations should attempt to In et th showteam for the upcoming haws, or, It i th r for b t to ignor color and ritt n profile description hich ap­ ju t as important, when selecting pairs Inarking to .the extent that thi ill b plie to all xhibition Cockatiel . When to put up for the breeding sea on, who the la t area ofth birdyou ill be work­ this is ignored, it tends to dilut the in­ will ultimately produce future how ing on' the icing on the cake, a it wer . tegrity of the tTIutation, as the fancier is winners and champions.

32 January / February 1995 by ...4HAGEN® UTRITIO TO LAST A IFETI E Tropican is the food that meets the needs of your bird through all stages of its life. A scientifically designed blend of seven grains and nuts including; corn, wheat, oats, soyabean, sunflower, peanut, rice plus additional vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Tropican was developed at the HAGEN A ICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (HARI) to feed the more than 350 pairs of more than 60 varieties of parrots that are housed there. As indicated by the excellent health and breeding success of the HARI birds after six years of exclusive feeding, Tropican is The Total Diet. • Tropican comes in 3 lifecycle formulas: Baby Food (for hand feeding), High Performance (for Breeders), and Life-Time (for maintenance) • The inclusion of natural fruit flavours maximizes palatiblity • The Life-Time formula contains three natural colours: Green, Orange and Natural • No preservatives or artificial sweeteners • The best quality control: Each batch is formulated, test fed, analyzed (by two independent labs) and approved by the HAGEN AVICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

• CO 2 packed air barrier bags guarantees no bugs and seals in freshness • Extruded granules eliminate powdery waste and wet voluminous droppings caused by pellets • Stop feeding your birds artificial candy-like food that makes droppings purple and red! Available from your locallndependant Pet Shop and Avian Veterinarian. For Life-Time granules send $10.00 for a 1 kg. (2.25 lb.) bag of Cockatiel, or $20.00 for a 2 kg. (4.4 lb.) of Parrot to: Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp. P.O. Box 9107, Mansfield, Ma. 02048 For your FREE SAMPLE or to order larger quantities call: 1·800·225·2700 or 2701