Generations

[father0fseven]

For all you expert breeders out there --

How many generations should pass before you can consider birds not related (or at least safe to mate)...

If they have the same parents (obviously not but byway of example)? grandparents? great grandparents? great great grandparents?

Darren

[unpoquito]

What a great question, and one I hope to hear an answer too. There is so little info out there about breeding parrotlets, and especially with regard to pedigrees (for birds in general). I would think one would want to stay away from inbreeding/line breeding as much as possible to avoid the health consequences. But how does anyone really know this, when pedigrees are not kept by any organization? Do breeders keep track of pedigrees? How do they with the start of their program with the first pair they buy, if the seller does not provide a pedigree? I'm assuming most don't, right?
BTW, Darren, have I mentioned how amazingly BEAUTIFUL that parrotlet in your avatar is? I could look at him all day long!

[father0fseven]

Thanks for the compliment on Montana... I like that picture of him a lot!

I know that I keep records of who is a child of who. I don't breed heavily and most of my babies go to homes of people I know. I try to get as much pedigree information from the previous birds owner but since many of my birds come to me as rescues, that information is often sadly lacking.

With Lucky (my BlueDilute) I now need to start thinking about trying to establish a white line. The first time I've ever thought about putting one of my babies back into the breeding population.