Exhibiting Cockatiels A Different Way to Breed Cockatiels By Don Mertes Cockatiels have always been a wonderful way to introduce folks into the world of breeding birds. 
In the process of raising these babies, though, many of us have realized that some just “look” better than others. A taller crest, a fuller chest, a larger body … We also notice that some are friendlier than their cage mates. It’s interesting to me that after raising these babies with equal feeding, equal attention and equal support – that the individual differences in personalities is astounding. Whatever the differences, be it physical or personality, it becomes glaringly apparent through raising these beautiful birds – that not all Cockatiels are created equal. I joined the NCS, The National Cockatiel Society, three years ago and began to study these beautiful birds through the articles on their website (www.cockatiels.org). This organization recognizes these differences in much the same way as AKC, The American Kennel Club, recognizes differences in dogs. The NCS is made up of hundreds of members throughout our country (and Puerto Rico) that continually strive for perfection in their breedings. The website features a drawing of their ideal bird and members attempt, through every pairing and every breeding season, to replicate as closely as possible – the features described and illustrated on the website. There are shows all over the country at varying times of the year that are attended by many members and which feature sometimes hundreds of birds. Judges quietly approach each showbox containing specifically banded birds by each attending breeder while an audience watches in anticipation of the results. Champions and Grand Champions are made during these shows and Best-In-Show ribbons are attached to the winning bird’s show box. The differences between these banded birds and one that you may find in an area pet shop is easily recognizable. These Cockatiels are much larger with broader heads, bigger eyes and more stately crests. Their demeanor is also different. As they wait for their turn to be judged, most stand proudly in the showbox; head back… chest out… tail straight… eyes focused. Exhibitors swear by “show box training” and many attest that there are birds that actually “want” this recognition. Far be it from me to dispel the bird’s intentions – but there are actually individual birds that change demeanor when a judge approaches their box. These birds seem to understand that “it’s now or never” and they instantly stand taller and turn to feature their best side like a model on a runway. These fortunate few in the Cockatiel world typically live as members of a larger flock, when not enduring life on the road. If they have been awarded Champion or Grand Champion stardom, then their time away from shows usually involve breeding and raising families. These birds are coveted like gold and well taken care of. Hens are allowed to raise no more than two clutches of chicks per year, while cocks are sometimes offered multiple partners throughout the breeding season. The breeders themselves each have their own “special formulas” when it comes to feeding these birds, too. Custom blended seed mixes, specifically formulated pellets and closely held beliefs in what puts weight on before a show season are applied lovingly to each show string. Every well-known breeder is known for raising a certain “type” of bird, which is referred to as “a line”. The names of these lines flow like wine at any exhibition show and on the chat groups that hold as members the fellow breeders of these birds. Greesons, Tory ½ &½s, Ferets, Allens, Maples, Sunburst lines … all represent different attributes that these birds have been bred for. For example, Greeson birds are usually bred into flocks where size has been an issue in the past. These birds have a genetic pre-disposition that passes onto their offspring and thereby makes them larger. Tory birds impart larger heads and hawk-like brows onto their offspring, while Allen and Maple birds raise the crests and the “attitude” onto each of their lucky progeny. Buyers work themselves into frenzy at the mere mention of a sale being planned at a well-known aviary and these birds can sell for up to $1,000 each depending on their lineage. Many great birds have been acquired for far lesser amounts (typically between $200 and $500) and breeders of these sought after feathered kings and queens ship their royalty all over the world to awaiting collectors. It is impossible to colony breed these birds as the pedigree, which can sometimes trace ancestry back ten generations, MUST be true and breeders are held to this lineage by their word for years to come. A higher than average knowledge of genetics is often learned as a by-product of breeding these birds. Knowing what traits and mutations have been collected into these individual birds and what attributes will be passed on to succeeding generations makes breeding these lines much more successful. Many of these breeders have no concern with what mutations will result in any particular pairing. These folks breed toward the visual standard of any bird, so whether they’re a Lutino, Pearl or Pied is of no consequence to them. A beautiful bird should be painted black in the minds eye of these breeders and the shape and style of this bird is what is to be admired. Still other breeders hold the individual mutations in high regard and are known throughout the community as the best breeders of a certain mutation. Josh Maple for Lutinos, Wendy LaBanca for Sex-Linked Yellowcheeks and Phillip Feret for Whitefaces are just a few examples of breeders that have specialized in one or more mutations and have chosen to work with them above some of the other choices. In my own aviary, I recently had a “3/4 Greeson Pastel” born. To most folks who haven’t had the pleasure of breeding exhibition style Cockatiels, this would mean very little. But, in the circle of breeders that collect such rare and specialized genetics – this is a large and triumphant step toward breeding another mutation toward standards befitting a showbench. Many breeders, who have been responsible in the past for developing new mutations, have inbred these designer birds for so many generations that their size and other conformations have taken a backseat to their coloring or patterns. These mutations, Pastels included, are now available to breeders but at a size that is generally much smaller than their nominate cousins. Only through multiple generations of outcrossing to larger lines, can these new mutations actually regain their ancestor’s grandeur. Unfortunately, what I consider “color breeders” (meaning breeders that pair birds for color or mutation only) continue this darkened path and the end results are weakened lines of birds that are much less vigorous than a well bred example of the same genus.
Courtesy: www.cockatiels.org
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