Hybrids

[Ram]

Hello to everyone in the forum. I would like to ask if anybody knows whether grey + green singers (large or small serinus mozambicus) mating produce fertile hybrids? I have a crop of hybrids( not old enough to sex yet) and I was wondering if I would get all females and what If I could still bred them as stock. Just trying to see if the offspring would have better singing ability than their parents. Hope somebody answers. Thanks and have a good breeding season!

[Sally]

Chances are they could be fertile, since the two species are closely related. If you are breeding hybrids, it is only fair and ethical to let future buyers know that they are getting hybrids. Unfortunately, when we pollute the gene pool with hybrids, it means that we lessen the numbers of pure birds that we have in the U.S.

[Ram]

No disrespect intended but hybridization does have a legitimate purpose. I don't sell hybrids. I have always sold spare pure bred birds but if I did start selling , it would be to other songbird enthusiasts who would know exactly what they were getting. Thank you Sally for the reminder.