> health problem pop up. So I doubt that letting these particular two
 > half-siblings breed would result in deformed or sickly babies.
 >
 > Does this sound like I'm seeing thru rose-tinted glasses, or does
 > this plan make sense?
To be honest, I think you're looking through rose-tinted glasses. As you 
now,
you won't necessarily see any genetic defects until you line-breed. At the 
very
least, it can result in small babies.  At the most, eggs won't hatch or the
babies may be sickly and have shortened lives. I'm sure you would not
consider line-breeding cockatiels. Why would this be any different?
I know other breeders occasionally DO line-breed their tiels if they
have a specific physical feature they're trying to "set" so it will
reproduce. True, I haven't got that goal with the cherries.
But as I said, I don't HAVE to let them breed, either. I can take
measures to prevent fertile eggs (no box, etc.). But I suppose that
might cause them frustration later on. In that case, I guess I could let
them foster someone else's egg(s), fertile or otherwise. But Rio & Paco
live happily with no box several months out of the year, and never show
signs of wanting to nest at all -- until I hang their box.
I'm in a quandry here...I know Kirsche Cherry-head is nearing the age
where she's going to REQUIRE a mate--she's so bonded to Rico Jenday it's
sometimes dangerous for me to try to handle the two together. She's not
going to be happy when Ivy moves into that room with the rest of them.
But I simply CAN NOT put myself through bringing another strange bird in
here; I don't care if it came from the cleanest aviary in the world. I
went through too many sleepless nights worrying about all the risks
involved in bringing Ivy Jenday in here. I can't ever go through that
again.
I have a male baby cherry-head here right now (the sexing results came
in today--the one I want to keep IS a male, the other two are girls).
This guy might be Kirsche's last chance at having a companion of her own
species, half-sibling or not.
My only other alternatives are to keep another male Jenday baby for Ivy,
and let Kirsche HAVE Rico (which you know would never happen, given my
distaste for hybridizing), or to leave her single forever.
Do you know of anybody I could talk to about this situation who knows A
LOT about the genetic risks involved in breeding half-siblings? I'd like
to get some statistics if there are any available.
Anybody else-- thoughts? Comments?
--Kathy
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