society genetics ??

[kheather]

Okay, got this male crested black and grey last summer, never could fnd a hen for him that I liked. Then got ths pretty pearl grey girl and have paired them up. They are breeding and have nest. I expect eggs anyday!! So what wll I maybe get???? will I get some pearls??

[kheather]

.....i know several of you know society genetics!!!

[L in Ontario]

I have lots of Socs but I know sqwat about their genetics. They are rather like Zebras (to me). Put them in a blender and see what comes out - it's different every time!!!

PS - the blender is hypothetical / theoretical / metaphor / joke - don't bash me.

PSS - your Socs are beauts!

[bugaboo5]

I wish I could help, but society finch genetics confuse me. I have them as well, but I just accept whatever offspring they produce.

If you are interested in a very informative read, visit: http://www.zebrafinch.com/SocietyFinch/Society.html

Short tidbit of info from the website (credit to Garrie Landry - great guy! Email him for specific questions; he answers emails):

Pearl is a recessive sex-linked mutation. Males can carry the gene for pearl, females are either pearl or normal but cannot be split for pearl. Only males can be split for the pearl gene. The pearl mutation is only attractive in a Chocolate background. In other words Chestnut Pearls and Fawn Pearls are not attractive and according to Osamu, such Pearls do not display the unique color features that make Pearl Societies so unique. Therefore all Pearl Societies are bred from a self chocolate ancestry.

He is one of the gurus' of society finch keeping. He was one of the original breeders/aviaries who brought in the first pearl societies into the U.S. from Japan. Good luck!

P.S. I second L's comment! Those are some GORGEOUS socs!

[annague]

In my simplified reponse I can say that for me the genetics seem to go back to the most commonly colored mutation.

For instance, I have bred several pairs where they are not the same mutation -- like a chocolate and a fawn -- almost all the babies turn out to be chocolates (I assuming because fawn is a more recessive mutation.) If I breed a chestnut and a fawn, the babies are most often chestnuts.

I increased my chances if both parents had blood with the more rare mutation (for instance, a chocolate male who had a fawn parent and is bred with a fawn hen will have a higher chance of throwing fawn babies.)

OK -- that is not very scientific but this has been my experience with Soc's.

P.S. I LOVE your Soc's!! Mind telling me where you got them?

[kheather]

I got the black and grey from a vendor in st louis...he had a bunch, he breeds black and greys only, for fosters for his gouldians and some others. I have his number..but have yet to see him at a fair again yet. Hopefully. The pearl got from a guy that more or less is a broker..he had a cagefull and told me all were males. I got it home nd it is a hen, so I was pleased. He lives in Lincoln Il. I may call and see if he has more pearles and pick up another...I really like both these fnches and wish I had another of each!

Also thanks for the link. I have read that many times. Great site for societies!!

[finchmix22]

I am not a genetic person by any means, but if the pearl gene is sex linked on a hen (all or nothing, visually), then the two will have only the darker mutation.
As anna stated, I'll tell you my Society experiences with colors, but this is Not scientific. Just observations.
I have a fawn pied hen with red eyes and a chocolate pied male. The first clutch of babies turned out two chocs, one fawn with red eyes. The second clutch was two chololates. The third clutch was two fawn and two choc, no red eyes. The fourth clutch was 1 fawn (red eyes) and 1 choc.
I paired the fawn hen with another male, who is marked white pied/choc. and they produced an even split of fawn and chocolate pieds.

Interesting Note: The marked white choc. pied cock paired with the fawn, red eyed hen, always produced marked white choc. males and fawn pied hens the red eyes. That must mean something, but I don't know what. LOL. All I do know is the second pairing I'm keeping as I sell those babies like hotcakes and they're so pretty. Plus, I love knowing the sex quickly. BTW I confirmed the sex of their babies by observing the singing in the males and the hens laid eggs, so definitely sexed correctly. Very intersting, but confusing genetics.

[kheather]

yes, thanks for info! society genetics are confusing, and I dont keep as many...right now the pearl hen, and 4 males. She is now sitting on her second set of infertile eggs! I know he is fertile. She is pretty new and I have noooo idea of her age. Maybe she is older....she laid 3 eggs first round and 4 next round.The eggs are over a week and look like duds....no life! I'll pull em out here in a couple days and try her with a different male. I have since aquired a pearl male so I was planning on pairing her with him anyway!

[cindy]

Heather in order to get more perls you need a Chocolate self society....no white
http://www.zebrafinch.com/SocietyFinch/Pearl.html

"Breeding Pearls: Pearls are not difficult to breed, no more so than regular society finches but, well marked pearls ARE difficult to produce. Many Pearls simply never develop the desired color that characterizes a good Pearl. Poorly marked pearls are too brown with very little grey color and look like a typical chestnut self society, other Pearls have some grey color but not enough, to classify them as great pearls. Nevertheless, even these imperfectly colored Pearls are still attractive birds. Apparently the quality of the grey pigment on the head, wings and tail determine how attractive the Pearl will be. I began by breeding Pearls X Chocolates and I am now prepared to mate Pearl X Pearl in an effort too determine if a higher percentage of well marked Pearl young will be produced. The Japanese breeder who developed the Pearl, classified them in categories of A,B, and C Pearls. "A" being the best marked bird and "C" being the least well marked Pearl. Pearls and Japanese Chocolate Selfs are incredibly tame birds, much more so than any American Society Finches we have seen. For this reason, they may also prove to be some of the best Societies to use as foster parents"

[kheather]

Yes You have mentioned that before, which was why I have been trying with the black and grey society (wanted to see since he is dark what I would get. But 2 infertile clutches so far?? So I figured I would maybe throw another male in the mix! see if outcome is maybe some fertile eggs!