Inbreeding and Linebreeding
Note to reader: I do not recommend inbreeding or linebreeding to any novice or experienced breeder who is unsure of the lines they are breeding. Knowledge of genetical inheritance patterns is a must.
Inbreeding and linebreeding are practices used in bird breeding for over a hundred years. I have read early 20th century literature covering the subject on canaries. This is nothing new to aviculture. Let's first start out by defining what I believe is the difference between inbreeding and linebreeding. Inbreeding is often referred to as the breeding of relatives that are closely related. Examples are: brother to sister, mother to son, and father to daughter. Linebreeding is breeding established lines of birds that genetically carry some of the same genes and were previously inbred. Lines of birds are often named after the initial breeder of the lines. A popular line in cockatiels today is a line developed by Kathy Short in Washington state called "Tory half and half". She mated half siblings with a common outstanding sire and produced many grandchampion children, grandchildren and the line. This line is so potent that even grandchildren who are outcrossed to unrelated birds exhibit many of the same traits as their linebred parent.
Why Linebreed?
When trying to set desirable traits, you must sometimes linebreed. Why? Because when we continue to outcross birds, we get more and more variability and less predictability in their appearance. To increase the predictability we linebreed two birds that are related in some shape (aunt to nephew, grandmother to grandson, etc) and share the same appearance outwardly. Linebreeding works when we produce babies that have the same desirable traits as their parents possess. So, why is this best left to those who are versed in their pedigrees and lineage? Certain birds, when linebred, can also pass on undesirable traits that may be hidden in their DNA. This can be a small defect such as a small crest or a large defect such as a genetic disease. If we know the background of the birds available (at least 3-4 generations) then we can more carefully pair birds. For instance, you would not linebreed two birds who seem to keep weight on no matter how much exercise they get. This may be a genetic propensity for obeseness and could be carried on to future generations.
If you are to engage in linebreeding, you must do certain things
Inbreeding and linebreeding are practices used in bird breeding for over a hundred years. I have read early 20th century literature covering the subject on canaries. This is nothing new to aviculture. Let's first start out by defining what I believe is the difference between inbreeding and linebreeding. Inbreeding is often referred to as the breeding of relatives that are closely related. Examples are: brother to sister, mother to son, and father to daughter. Linebreeding is breeding established lines of birds that genetically carry some of the same genes and were previously inbred. Lines of birds are often named after the initial breeder of the lines. A popular line in cockatiels today is a line developed by Kathy Short in Washington state called "Tory half and half". She mated half siblings with a common outstanding sire and produced many grandchampion children, grandchildren and the line. This line is so potent that even grandchildren who are outcrossed to unrelated birds exhibit many of the same traits as their linebred parent.
Why Linebreed?
When trying to set desirable traits, you must sometimes linebreed. Why? Because when we continue to outcross birds, we get more and more variability and less predictability in their appearance. To increase the predictability we linebreed two birds that are related in some shape (aunt to nephew, grandmother to grandson, etc) and share the same appearance outwardly. Linebreeding works when we produce babies that have the same desirable traits as their parents possess. So, why is this best left to those who are versed in their pedigrees and lineage? Certain birds, when linebred, can also pass on undesirable traits that may be hidden in their DNA. This can be a small defect such as a small crest or a large defect such as a genetic disease. If we know the background of the birds available (at least 3-4 generations) then we can more carefully pair birds. For instance, you would not linebreed two birds who seem to keep weight on no matter how much exercise they get. This may be a genetic propensity for obeseness and could be carried on to future generations.
If you are to engage in linebreeding, you must do certain things
- Keep detailed records on all your flock
- Necropsy all suspicious deaths (all deaths in the aviary is the best)
- Buy birds only from breeders who can tell you their pedigree and what it means
Linebreeding is practiced to enhance the appearance of cockatiels for exhibition. Careful lineage is learned throughout a breeders exhibition years before ever attempting a linebreeding situation. I oftentimes will call breeders who have been working on cockatiels for over 15 years and linebreeding to ask them their opinions on lines of birds and what predictable outcomes I can expect. Linebreeding for a certain color mutation should not be done. Its easier just to purchase another bird of that mutation. If a new mutation has cropped up in your aviary, I would suggest contacting one of the cockatiel organizations (like NCS or ACS) to see if they can point you in a reliable direction.
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