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Cockatiels: Breeding Smart! Excerpt
COCKATIELS:  Breeding Smart!
by Linda S. Rubin
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Excerpt From Chapter 6:

Mutations or Sports

Miscellaneous Faults
Occasionally, cockatiels are seen with other faults such as yellow or orange
wing-bars, overly "bleeding" orange cheek patches (usually a sign of breeding
condition or molt), with some reportedly almost entirely coloring the face. Other
reports include yellow, orange, or tan colored flights, or tali feathers, etc. There are
even some birds since the 1970's with a heavily suffused layer of yellow carotenoids
creating an olive-green appearance in several of the established mutations, referred
to loosely as "Greens," "Cinnamon Greens," and other names. In addition, different
patterns have been found such as inverse Pearl markings, orange Pearl markings,
heavy marbling, etc.

If color feeding, nutritional deficiencies, and breeding condition are ruled out
(categories which many birds do fall under), you may find something genuinely
different and worthwhile to work with. A general rule of thumb to go by is:



1) Check written observations to see whether the chick was born with the variation,
i.e., exhibiting the variation starting with its first pin feathers through its complete adult
(two year) molt.

2) Verify that the bird never loses the variation or anomaly during its entire lifespan.
For example, it is well-known that birds sporting a nutritional deficiency will show a
variation, lose it, and possibly regain it again. This is usually the clue that the variation
is not an inherited anomaly.

3) Employ proper breeding techniques and prove the variation is inherited to the F2
generation (i.e., the grandchildren), at minimum. Ultimately, the variation should be
passed along to the offspring, who in turn should be able to pass it along to future
generations.



Indeed, as far as exhibition, faults are discouraging on the showbench. However, that
is not to say that something genuine, or new, may not come from slight variations to
spontaneous new mutations. Selective breeding may be ...


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COCKATIELS: BREEDING SMART!
Now Available as a Downloadable Digital Book
The second edition in e-book format provides
an overview on breeding cockatiels through
optimum husbandry management. The second
half is directed toward understanding the
principles of line-breeding, and provides a
unique discussion on how to recognize and
establish new color and pattern mutations at a
depth not often found in the literature.
*  NEWLY UPDATED SECOND EDITION
*  REVISED CHAPTERS on nutrition,
sports and new mutations
*  Text Length equivalent to each of the  
author's hard cover books  (Multiple  Bird
Households and Ultimate Parrot Guide
*  Packed with insightful information
for the novice and most seasoned
aviculturist desiring to delve deeper ...
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   Excerpts:               Controlled vs Colony Breeding                      Breeding Condition                      Line-Breeding                     Inherited Faults                      Miscellaneous Faults                       Order >>