Alexandrine Mutations Project: Year 2 (2012)

This post relates to my Alexandrine Mutations Project. If you are new to my blog you should start reading about this project here. To summarize, I paired up a normal Alexandrine cock to an albino ringneck hen last year to start my alexandrine mutations project. The hen laid 10 eggs in two clutches but all eggs were infertile. Here's what happened this year.

 

The pair was moved to a breeding cage in preparation for the 2012 season in September 2011. The birds were still bonded, perching together and the male feeding the hen. They however showed no interest in the nest box. As the breeding season peaked, the hen started to flirt with me again. She would jump to the cage floor and approach the feeding area where I would be refreshing their food and water dishes. She would then assume a mating position and make a cooing sound. I would ignore her and carry on with my tasks. The male would sit on the perch and watch the hen very closely. He was not very happy at the situation but was unsure what to do about it. The ritual continued for a week after which the cock finally mustered the courage to approach the hen while she was crouched. The hen was however not very cooperative and ran away when approached. A few more days went by with the scene being repeated every morning at the same time. The male was now more determined and attempting to mate. However being on the cage floor was not helping with proper mating. The first egg was laid on March 10, 2012. The pair had still not mated properly. On March 11, the hen did not jump to the cage floor. She moved close to me assuming the mating posture but stayed on the perch. The male grabbed the opportunity and they mated properly right before me. I stood motionless not wanting to ruin the moment (and the clutch). A total of 8 eggs were laid in the clutch. Candelling on the 29th revealed that egg number 2,3,4 and 5 were fertile. The other 4 were clear. I believe they may have mated properly only once and I was a witness to that one time.

The first chick hatched on April 3, 2012 which was joined by a sibling the next day. Egg #4 failed to hatch and Egg #5 hatched on April 8. When I inspected Egg #4, I found a fully developed chick inside that died before it pipped internally.

I will share pics of the 1st generation hybrid chicks on this blog. Stay tuned and keep coming back for updates.

Comments

  1. Please share pix of the chicks of this pair.

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  2. Hi Saud,

    I find your work/write up very interesting. I am still very new at this, but can you explain how you are going to include the chicks in your programme? In other words with what you would be pairing the chicks up with?

    Thanks
    Malcolm
    South Africa

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  3. Thanks for your comments
    These splits will be paired with pure normal alexandrines.
    You can read my articles about breeding alexandrine mutations here
    http://saudsaviary.blogspot.com/2011/12/breeding-alexandrine-mutations-lutino.html
    http://saudsaviary.blogspot.com/2011/12/breeding-alexandrine-mutations-blue.html

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    Replies
    1. Hi Saud,

      Thanks for the response. Had problems with our server therefore the delay in my response. Other than the ino and blue route, if you had done things differently what would it have been. I understand the time it would take and the strict record keeping but if I decided to start a program then other than the lutino and blue or grey route what other options can you use on the colour of a female IRN considering the modes of inheritence?

      Please forgive me if this question is too broad but I have been playing in my mind the different combinations (different colour of IRN females), and I admit I do not know the best combination.

      Can you help?

      Thanks
      Malcolm

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  4. If you use a Pallid IRN hen to get a pallid Alex then the program would look exactly the same as that for a Lutino Alex.
    Producing a violet would work exactly like producing a grey. Combining Lutino and blue mutations will produce albinos.

    A Dominant pied IRN would give you pied chicks in the first generation. These could be bred with pure alex to produce a pied alexandrine.

    I hope this answere your question.

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  5. Hi Saud,

    Thanks for the advise. I managed to acquire a GN2 alexandrine (possible split lutino). It is a long shot but I put it with a female alexandrine and wait with fingers crossed. I want to also do another hybrid pair alongside my lutino project. I am thinking of pairing a green alex with a higher end IRN female. Preferably dominant pied, but struggling to get a proven/definite dominant pied. There are plenty recessive pieds available but this would defeat the purpose. The reason I want to do the higher end mutations is because I think that in 10-15 years time the lutino, blue and albino alexandrine may be common. But I guess the fulfillment of breeding the colours in your own aviary is priceless.

    I will keep you posted. What I like Saud is that you are the only one I KNOW of who is willing to share information like the way you have. The breeders who are breeding the mutations are being very mumm. A very BBBIIGG thank you to you. Everything of the best.

    Thanks
    Malcolm

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    Replies
    1. Working with dominant pieds is a good idea. Good luck with finding a suitable hen and with your G2 split male. Hopefully it will give you a lutino hen and jump start your program. Please do share a pic of the G2 Male, It would be interesting to see how it compares to a normal alexandrine.

      Regards

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  6. Hi Saud,

    I will take a few pics and forward to you shortly. In general I observed the following traits:
    a) Bird is a decent size as it is distinctively larger than an IRN (will try to also send you measurements as the pics may not do justice....but will also take side by side pics of the bird and the female alex);
    b) The patches on the wing is fairly pronounced but still on the rusty side as opposed to the maroon colour of an alex. Interestingly, I noticed that the bird has a tinge of the rust colour on the topside of its head as well;
    c) The head is much squarer than an IRN head but I must admit that whilst it is nicely sized it does look like a huge IRN.
    d) The beak is bigger than an IRN's beak but I would say that it still looks more like an IRN Beak;
    e) The call/voice of the bird sounds exactly like an alexandrine.
    f) The feet (toes and nails) is distinctively different from and IRN.

    I obviously had no input/control of G1 and dont know the parents and parents parents history, but going forward I will be very selective on the partners.

    Will send pics and measurements when I can.

    Thanks
    Malcolm

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  7. Wonderful work dear Brother Saud, and i appreciate your patience.
    Keep it up.

    Regards
    Bader Nouman

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  8. a wonderful reading,wish you success

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  9. Dear Saud bro, i really glad to your all work related birds keeps. i always like to read your each comments, each comment have a great learning for me.
    bro i need your help reading Latino Alexandrine, i am interested to start this project in this year. can you guide me as a supervisor? i am waiting for your reply

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  10. Hi Saud,
    Thanks for the advise. I want set alex parrot mutations -
    number 1 pair is - Lutino male with Alex female &
    number 2 pair is - Alex male with Lutino female.
    what is baby born in this 2 pair. please help me.

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  11. Pair one.. All lutino hens and spilt males
    Pair two normal hen green and spilt males

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  12. Hi do you have images of the young mutations

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  13. can you please share the hybrid chicks pic or details

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