Pearl societies

[star]

I recently purchased a few pearl societies at the bird fair. Don't know where I can get mates for them, so was wondering if anyone familiar with this mutation could tell me what offspring I would get if I paired one of the male pearls to a female chocolate pied.

I read that the males can carry the pearl gene, and the females do not.

Any info anyone can give me to help me get more pearl societies is greatly appreciated.

[JohnBoy]

Hi, I have Pearls but never ever got pearls from them. I am not experienced with the genetics of the pearl. I sent one to Cindy and she did some research. So maybe she will see this and give you some info. In the meantime try Garrie Landry's site.

[cindy]

The pearl societies need to be paired with a chocolate self (not a chocolate pied) in order to get the pearls. The male carries the gene for the pearl...female needs to be the chocolate self....which are somewhat hard to find here in my area.

Surprisingly people will call the chocolate pied a chocolate self...when I go to see them it is a pied so no telling what the background is.

I still have my little guy, Lance. He is keeping my Red headed finch male company after the female passed a few months ago.

Forgot to ask are all your pieds related and males?

[star]

I have two male pieds. They are not related.

So I couldn't put the male pearl with a female dark brown or pearl European society? It definitely has to be a chocolate self?

[cindy]

yes only a chocolate self will give you pearls...if you put a pied with it you will get pied...the effect you want is a lacy kind of look...

check these out, scroll down to pearls

http://www.emeraldisleaviary.com/societyfinches.htm

http://www.zebrafinch.com/SocietyFinch/Pearl.html

http://www.efinch.com/species/society.htm

[JohnBoy]

It sounds to me like you need to pair a male Pearl with a female chocolate self. That could be hard to find cause I have had pairs of birds that I thought were selfs but they threw choco pieds or birds that looked like selfs but had a speck of white under the chin. One out of I'd say five looked to be completely choco selfs. But are they? Genetics are not my thing.

[cindy]

your best bet is to find a serious society breeder that has a long line of chocolate self....or as John stated a pearl female. You may have to have one shipped to you.

[star]

The dark brown European societies and the self chocolate societies look so much alike to me, are you sure it won't work with a European?

I do have a pearl European female , what would I get if I put her with the male pearl ?

I can't seem to get a hold of the breeder I got the pearls from. I keep leaving messages, but no response. I have two male and one female pearls that I got from him. I am pretty sure they are all related.

I also have a pearl European society from another person, but I don't care for her coloring that much.

I would get some shipped in if it were not so cold. I probably have to wait until May.

[star]

I also have a dark brown female European society

[cindy]

If you have any further questions based on what you have you can write an expert at efinch. Garrie Landry is an expert and who I contacted...http://www.zebrafinch.com/

I am not familiar with the particuliar mutation you have and can't say if this will work, it was my understanding from reading and corresponding with Mr. Landry that a chocolate self female was needed. Refer to his site and the other sites I posted prior on your thread.

[star]

Okay, thank you Cindy.

[star]

Okay , a male pearl can also be paired with a brown euro female to get pearls. Wanted to share in case anyone else needs this info.

[cindy]

Did you write to one of the experts? Since you have those you will be in the "pearl making" business soon!!!!

[cindy]

here is an interesting article...go to page 6 of the document, it talks about breeding pearls and how they are paired with a self society (no white in the feathering).

http://www.avianeducationandresourcecen ... 2-2005.pdf

[star]

Yes, I emailed the expert you gave me the link for . Thanks again. I also learned today that my female pearl is probably unrelated to the two males. ( heard from the breeder today ) She is a lighter color than the boys, prettier. Wish the boys were her color. The breeder has a few left and I will try to get them. He is selling out.

At any rate the expert says I can do a brother/sister pairing of one of the males for one generation, just in case the ones I have are related, and I was unable to get the last few. The other male will get a euro girl.

Thanks for all the links Cindy !!!