Aussie Finch Forum

So as not to hijack some else's post I started a new topic. I noticed that Marius Stegmann is having trouble with a seemingly genetic problem with water sacks under the eyes of mutation zeb's, some of which are permanently blind, necessitating them to be euthanased. I also noticed that nobody has answered his query. My dilemma is where does all this end? The breeding of bird mutations is an interesting and some might say desirable pursuit and I by no means wish to denigrate this aspect of our hobby. However, man's obsession with breeding animals and birds to the extreme where they are no longer a functioning creature is deplorable and should be, for ethical reasons, made illegal. Some prime examples are:

Rhodesian Ridge back dogs, some of the pups have spinal sinuses and have to be "put down!" ( Euphemism for killed.)
Pugs and other short faced dogs, suffering with breathing problems and skin infections between the folds of skin.
Bubble eyed and Celestial goldfish, they have to be kept in an environment with no rough surfaces, otherwise they puncture the eye sack.
The list of abominations goes on with;
Waltzing mice with a neurological disorder that makes them stand upright and twirl.
Fainting goats with a similar disorder that makes them drop over stiff at the sound of a loud noise or a sudden fright.
Tumbler pigeons where it is so bred into them that they tumble off the perches or fail to breakout of the tumble and break their necks.
Chrysanthemum Budgerigars, so frizzled that they can no longer fly, breed properly or see anything, due to the length of their feathers.
I'm sure you have all heard of similar misfits and probably feel the same way about them as I do. My point is, when the vigour of a mutation starts to deteriorate and the bird is no longer a healthy, functioning example of its species, then it's time to discontinue that line of breeding or introduce some new genes, not continue to propagate these sad specimens purely because you can. I think we have a moral obligation not to breed anything but healthy, unencumbered specimens capable of all the biological activities appropriate for its species.

Getting wobbly up here on the soapbox, so I'm done!

This will open a can of worms Tintola

One that has disturbed me is the munchkin breed of cat.... short legs, long body, haven't they learnt anything from the dachshunds! :/

vettepilot_6 wrote: This will open a can of worms Tintola

I hope so !! This is what forums should be about "healthy debate"

i agree with you there the main concerne a breeder should have when breeding the mutation is the quailty of the ofspring , if it is a weak line ect it should be stop before it can wipe out and weaken and destory a entire population , i hate to say it but the breeder who is breeding the birds with the water sacks under there eye should do the best thing for the species and put down the parents to keep gene pool clean for the better use of the species,

Mutations are fine as long as you say they don't go too far...but what is too far, it differs in everyones opinion....hence why we have the aforementioned abominations..I for one agree with you Tintola....sure let them breed their mutants but please make it for the betterment of the species.....

Can of worms indeed, too late to respond now, I'll try to write something tomorrow.

"My point is, when the vigour of a mutation starts to deteriorate and the bird is no longer a healthy, functioning example of its species, then it's time to discontinue that line of breeding or introduce some new genes, not continue to propagate these sad specimens purely because you can. I think we have a moral obligation not to breed anything but healthy, unencumbered specimens capable of all the biological activities appropriate for its species."
Couldn't agree with you more.
LML

Throw some pure blood back in and start again but then I thought thats what you were meant to do before the "freaks" raised their ugly head or heads .

Responsible bird breeding.

I did think with the problems he is encountering it may be a mutation step too far as its obviously causing problems with the birds eyes.

Tintola wrote:Rhodesian Ridge back dogs, some of the pups have spinal sinuses and have to be "put down!" ( Euphemism for killed.)

The ridge of hair growing in the wrong direction on these dogs is actually a mild form of spina bifida.
Another case in the dog world is that of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Skull size isn't big enough to contain the brain leading to extreme pain, fitting and death.
Or the German Shepherd and the hind quarters now being so distorted they are known as the "frog dog"

A good case for not having shows for birds I think. Most of these problems in the dog world have been caused by a particular dog doing well in the shows, everyone wants pups from that dog, consequently the gene pool is narrowed and then the problems start to show.