Princess Parrots

[princesscamel]

I have acquired a Lime/Blue cock and blue split lime hen,
I want these to breed, (any idea what colors they would produce?)
My aviary is 3.5mx2mx2m and I have put a divider in which is about 1m in width to separate them from the others, 2 blues(m/f) and 2 greens(m/f)
Is this a good idea or would it be better to put them in a smaller cage about 3ft x 2ft x 2ft to get to know each other alot better.
Any other tips on breeding these beautiful birds would be greatly appreciated as it has been a while since I've had birds( lovebirds when i was a kid, and bred plenty of them too without much trouble)

[avinet]

May 11, 2011 10:24:26 GMT 10 princesscamel said:

I have acquired a Lime/Blue cock and blue split lime hen,
I want these to breed, (any idea what colors they would produce?)
My aviary is 3.5mx2mx2m and I have put a divider in which is about 1m in width to separate them from the others, 2 blues(m/f) and 2 greens(m/f)
Is this a good idea or would it be better to put them in a smaller cage about 3ft x 2ft x 2ft to get to know each other alot better.

Hi

To start with the genetics, the lime Princess is more correctly called a NSL ino (or Non-Sex-Linked lutino) and like the blue is a recessive gene. The NSL ino mutation is quite variable, with colours ranging from yellow to the greenish yellow that is normally sold as lime, but they are all the same gene mutation.

Pairing a NSL ino split blue with a blue split NSL ino is a nice combination and should give you the following, using Gencalc to calculate the results.

25% blue split NSL ino
25% blue NSL ino (a white bird)
25% green split blue and NSL ino
25% NSL ino split blue

Each mutation can be of either sex however I am not sure just what colour the blue NSL ino would be. If the cock was a pure yellow form of the NSL ino mutation then the baby would likely be white. However since you have called it a lime, and I assume it has a pale green mixed with the yellow I would assume that the baby will not be a pure white. I haven't enough experience with these Princess mutations yo be sure exactly how the Blue NSL ino will look but I suspect it will be like the lime white princesses near the bottom of the page at www.whitepoppyaviaries.com.au/birds/australian/polytelis-parrots/princess-parrots/ - photos please if you get one! Actually photo anyway please, we all love seeing photos

So you should get 4 potential colours with good splits into the bargain.

I would put the two birds into the flight rather than confining them into a smaller cage. No real point since if they want to get to know each other then they will do it just as well in the flight as in the cage, and a 3.5 x 1.0 metre flight is a good size.

I would also put a suitable nest box (or preferably 2 boxes different form each other) in the flight as well. It isn't too long to the breeding season and here in Queensland they can start breeding in July. If they are just 12 months old they may not breed at all this spring, or breed unsuccessfully, but if they are 2 years old they should breed OK.

Really the only thing you have to do is to provide good food - fresh vegies and fruit, and I always give sprouted seed leading up to, and during, breeding season. Also an occasional calcium supplement is useful to ensure egg-binding doesn't occur.

And if you haven't done so already a dose of wormer (I use Vetafarm's Wormout Gel) is a good idea before breeding gets underway. Princesses are notorious for getting worms!

Princesses breed easily in my experience, or at least aviary Princesses do. I have a pair of pet blue Princesses which are into their teens and never bred - the male doesn't have a clue what to do!

cheers,

Mike

[princesscamel]

Thanks for that Mike,

They are last seasons birds, so hopefully they bond really well and who knows what will happen next year. I already have made 2 "Z" shaped boxes so I will make another "L" shape and see what they prefer, the Blue pair have already laid claims to one of the z shaped ones.
Hopefully some photos will follow soon