FINCHforum

I recently contacted a woman who posted an ad that she had fourteen "society zebra finches" for sale. I asked her to clarify, as I am looking for a few more of both, and she responded that the birds were the offspring of a zebra male and a society female. I had no idea the two could crossbreed successfully, and it worries me if it is true, because I was intending to house my societies and zebras in the same flight, but don't want crossbred babies!

Is such a cross-breeding possible?

According to the species profiles at the Finch Information Center, it is possible to crossbreed these two species. I was particularly amazed to see that the Society finch can crossbreed with the Red-cheeked Cordon Blue! What a weird combination.

Wow, I know in the parrot world, that is a HUGE no-no, as CITES doesn't allow any new imports and everyone is concerned about keeping the species lines pure. Is it not as taboo, or less taboo, among finches?

Well as I understand the society finch is a finch that doesn't live/exist in the wild it is from many years of breeding, it's history is from China (i believe), where one was looking for a breed of finch that would be good parents. From the many many years of breeding different finchs they got the modern day society finch as we know it.

Chris

This is a real concern for a lot of breeders. Right now, finches are being imported from Africa for the first time in years, but most people who have been in the business a long time feel that this is a temporary window. In talking to some of these breeders, some species were becoming very inbred, due to no new bloodlines being available. The National Finch & Softbill Society has a program called Finch Save, hoping to bring breeders together to swap bloodlines, so we can have these species around for a long time.

There is a trend to breed for mutations. There is nothing wrong with that, but eventually it becomes very difficult to find 'pure' bloodlines that aren't split to one mutation or another, and the beautiful finches that first attracted us to this hobby may not be available in their original form. Mutations are one thing, but to deliberately crossbreed species, in my opinion, should not be done.

I agree, Sally, but I am coming from a long history of bias as a parrot owner, where it is unconscionable to deliberately produce a hybrid. It seems that even though Societies are the result of cross-breeding, they are now considered a recognized species and should be treated as such.

I see it in the dog world all the time - dogs that used to be called mutts are now labradoodles or maltipoos - and everyone is trying to make a buck off of them.

I politely replied to her that I was interested in either zebras or societies, and not in hybrids, and I left it at that.

spector wrote:I see it in the dog world all the time - dogs that used to be called mutts are now labradoodles or maltipoos - and everyone is trying to make a buck off of them.

That is so true! I grew up when a mutt was a mutt. Nothing wrong with that, both my dogs are mutts, and they make wonderful pets, but people didn't deliberately crossbreed. Now it is like the more ridiculous the cross, the higher the price--I just don't get it.

spector wrote:I see it in the dog world all the time - dogs that used to be called mutts are now labradoodles or maltipoos - and everyone is trying to make a buck off of them.

This is getting a little more off topic but I just had to add my 2 cents to this post.

My daughter who is a small animal Veterinarian tells me that her clinic is starting to see a lot of these "designer dogs" come in. They are showing up with a lot of health problems like severe skin problems....digestive problems and lots of hip and leg problems from this type of crossbreeding.

And the one client who brought in a "golden-doodle" said he paid $1500.00 for his dog and he will be spending a lot more now that the dog has been diagnosed with some hip and leg defects.

Give me a good ol' Heinz 57 breed any day!

I have a pit/lab mix. Maybe I should start calling him a Labrordshire Terrier and charge exorbitant stud fees! Oh, wait, he's neutered....

I agree - all my dogs have been mutts, and were free, although my very first dog, a chi/beagle mix would probably have been worth a lot of money in today's market!

My two boys, Riley the Labrordshire <g> and Chewy the Chow, were both fosters for rescues, and ended up deciding they wanted to stay with me. I call them my "white trash" dogs.

spector wrote:because I was intending to house my societies and zebras in the same flight, but don't want crossbred babies!

Is such a cross-breeding possible?

they are highly unlikely to hybridise when housed togethr unless you have only male zebs and only female bengies (or vice versa)

i have housed and bred the two species in the same aviary with no cross breeding. the only time i had it come close was when a lone male zeb was housed with a lone hen bengie. they mated, they laid eggs but nothing fertile, the hen was too old

Aw. I have a chow x too (I have no idea what he is crossed with, but he is my baby). Churchill is his name.

I think since societies are such a huge mix of things that it can breed with a lot of things. Hybrids should not be sold at exuberant prices; they should just be treated like normals. Our local bird shop sells spice/society mixes.