To be Pied or not to be Pied ??

[Mands]

Hello.

Very simple question as I have no understanding of genetics at all. I am trying but it all seems to be in another language to me.

My question is, If i put my Pied African Fire to my normal African Fire, what will I get??? I don't want to lose the Pied. Is there a chance I will get the Pied? or just the normal? or maybe both?

Thanks

[cindy]

Pied is recessive...you will get Normal young that are split to pied. In most species the split to pied markers will show white under the chin, white wing edges, white spots on the top of the head. Pied can also be carried in the genes but not show. Pied is one of those mutations/gene that is some what difficult to get rid of.

[finchmix22]

Pied gene is dominant in Society's, so each clutch has some pied babies and they all carry the pied gene. In other finch species, as Cindy mentioned, pied of recessive and can show as a two colored beak, white feathers on edges of wings etc.

[Mands]

I still don't understand.

Will the babies look pied or not? or do I have to put pied to pied?

Thanks

[cindy]

They may or may not look pied, pied can stay hidden in the genes, the bird carries the gene....I believe it is recessive in fire finches. I can double check on fires/pied. In most species it is a recessive gene.

here is a topic on pied in fires, some show the pied markings http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=16361

This article describes the mutations for fires.... "Established colour mutations include Pied, Pink and Cinnamon. The modes of inheritence for these mutations are autosomal recessive for Pied and Pink and sex-linked recessive for Cinnamon. Well-marked Pied specimens can look quite striking but there are many lesser quality Pieds to each good one. To be brutally honest I find the Pink mutation to be significantly less attractive than the normal Ruddy. The Cinnamon mutation is a much more attractive mutation albeit not vastly different to the normal bird."
http://www.aussiefinchbreeder.com/Ruddy.htm

[wildbill]

pied fire with normal - the end result will be normal looking young but carrying the pied gene. young crossed with pied parent bird will again breed pied birds.
better off getting another pied - i know who has 20 of them lol

[Mands]

Wildbill

Thanks for the explanation I understand now.

Have you seen this ad on Gumtree? Australian Gumtree The price is pretty high and the condition of them doesn't look great to me. What do you think?

They are so hard to get here and as you can see very expensive. I am trying really hard to get another pair, i have a pair but they are siblings.

[wildbill]

Mands

they would have to be the WORST looking pied fires i've ever seen. you couldn't give me that lot

a few months ago i got this family of 6 young fire finches

[Mands]

I agree wildbill.

And the price is outrageous!!!

It's OK though I have found more from the man I got my pied cordons from. $70 a pair and really nice looking birds.

Now my flock is complete - YES I SAID IT - NO MORE BIRDS!!!!! I'm putting a lock on the aviary and giving the key to hubby. Mmmmm what about when I feed them I could sneak some in then. NO NO NO - NO MORE!!!!

Ps: as always, lovely little birds you have there Bill.

[Mands]

WOOP WOOP

I got my pair of Pied Fires today...very pretty healthy little fluffs. BUT hubby also got a pair of yellow breasted Emblemas (I was secretly soooo happy ) We already have the red ones so this is another nice addition.

So..............now..............no more birds !!!

pics later peeps

[Derk]

Very nice and interesting. I am very new to fire finches and did not know they could be pied. Is this a natural mutation that is bred for or are they hybridized?? Inquirying minds.

Mary

[Mands]

I am a pied addict - I have pied African Fires, pied Cordon Blues, Pied Sea green parrot finches and pied zebras. But, having all of those doesn't make me an expert so I will leave it to those who know as I have no idea lol I just love them for their difference in colour.