Pedro & Eva

After a few years of keeping and breeding Kakarikies my interest in parrots in general had increased and I decided earlier in the year that Id like to expand my flock.  I was thinking about a Caique but I really liked the look of Sun Conures.  I read loads and asked for advise from other birdy people and looked more into the conure families.  I really didn't want anything too loud or noisy and was rather taken by the Mutation Green cheek Conures.  I read up about the genetics... which has never been a strong point of mine.... that's reading and genetics ... so the two together was quite hardcore.  I really liked the look of the yellow sided and the Pineapple Mutations so I started looking about for a pair of either.  What I had learned was that a pair of pineapple mutations would produce all pineapple babies.  I got in touch with several breeders i found online and looked at online adverts but nothing materialised.


I decided to go to the Parrot Society fair at Stafford.  I had never been before and had a plan... run round everything and check out whats there... narrow down the possibilities and think about it over a coffee and only buy if its exactly what I want at the right price.  I got there early..... and OMG..... where had all these people come from...!!! it was packed.  I barged my way in and started up and down the many rows of birds.  They were not in any particular order canaries next to African Grays next to kookaburras. So I walked up and down trying to spot any Green Cheek Conures then barged my way in to have a closer look and check the prices.  There were quite a few dotted about.  One pair took my fancy but they were not the mutation I had wanted and although nice birds they looked a bit small. I continued my quest and found a few more to add to the short list.  I then came across a table full of really nice looking birds and saw a pair of lovely birds right in the middle.  I looked around all the others but kept coming back to them.  I talked to the breeder and his wife and they were both really helpful. i told them i liked them but i needed to look around the rest before i made a decision..... 10 minutes later i was handing over the cash and carried them round with me while i bought them a new cage and stocked up on provisions.


I had managed to bag myself a pair of mutation Green Cheek Conures that are rather special.  The male is a yellow sided split to Pineapple and also split to Blue and the female is a Pineapple split to Blue.  Now if you don't know much about genetics in green cheek mutations..... like me..... this will not mean much.  By this time I had just about got to grips with the genetics of how you get to a Pineapple and the sex linked stuff and the males being split..... I had seen mention of the blue mutation but thought that was far to complicated.... so I had more reading to do and more google image searches to study.   I still don't have it sorted completely but I know this pair can produce quite a large variety of different mutations.


MALE CHICKS

1. YELLOW SIDED  split to Pineapple and Blue
2. YELLOW SIDED split to Pineapple
3. BLUE YELLOW SIDED split to Pineapple
4. PINEAPPLE split to Blue
5. PINEAPPLE
6. BLUE PINEAPPLE

FEMALE CHICKS

1. YELLOW SIDED split to blue 
2. YELLOW SIDED
3. BLUE YELLOW SIDED
4. PINEAPPLE split to blue
5. PINEAPPLE
6. BLUE PINEAPPLE

I have time to learn a bit more about all the genetics stuff while I wait for them to settle in.  In the mean time here's some photos taken just after I got them last month

This is Pedro

This is Eva

Eva hanging out with Pedro

Pedro showing off his blue bits

I love the markings around Eva's face

What a handsome Chap

A cheeky look from Eva 

Eva :"Hey Pedro, what do you think those other birds are?"
Pedro: "Hmmm.. I'm not sure Eva, but they arnt as beautifully as you" 
 Eva: "Pedro you're such a creep i will lay when I'm ready!"