Hybrids... Just a friendly Conversation please.

[texascowboy1979]

Quote:
They are Camelots,

Breed 1 - Blue Gold & Scarlet = Catalina
Breed 2 - Scarlet & Catalina = Camelot

 

[FourPawz]

Dogs, for example, Pure bread dogs have all these health issues, yet getting a wolf dog does not. wolves do not hve the health issues of dogs, because in the wild, the wolves with health issues die.

There are more and more people who think dogs are having health problems due to the poor quality of the majority of commercial food, in particular the store brand foods. Not only that, dogs get vaccinated every year (although that is beginning to change) and there is more and more concern about what effect it has on their immune systems.

Speaking of purebred canines, somebody forgot to tell mine they are supposed to be unhealthy. I've got one that's 2 weeks shy of 18 years old and another that turned 17 this past February. The 3rd is turning 15 next month and the "puppy" is 9. These are pedigreed, champion and performance titled retired show dogs.

As for hybrids, there is at least one person who posts updates on her guinea/chicken cross on BYC. It's an odd looking critter. I'll take naturally occurring hybrids any day over these genetically modified animals. They've now got a salmon, which is carnivorous, that's been genetically modified to eat nothing but corn. Of course, the pet food companies have been doing that to our dogs and cats for decades (chuckle).

 

[roosters4sale]

I have so much better luck with hybrids.

 

[ella]

ALL domestic animals have been genetically manipulated. I don't understand how it's ok to take a wolf to the point of a poodle but it's wrong to them cross a poodle to any other breed? I've heard the same thing in growing vegetables as in breeding animals. It's faulty reasoning in my opinion.

I've crossbred all manner of chickens to get the best for MY farm situation. There is no PURE breed, it's all been screwed around with to get a certain appearance or a particular function. Many harmful genetic quirks have been encouraged because one individual or another liked the way it looked.

So yeah, cross away! The only time I have a problem with it is when it causes distress to the anima,l and unless you're living next door, my having a problem with it won't affect you anyway.

 

[Kansaseq]

Not trying to split hairs here, but we are talking about two entirely different things( and someone please correct me if I've got my genus/species/order mixed up) A crossbreed is the mixing of two different breeds within a species. For example, an Austrolorp to Leghorn. A hybrid would be the crossing of two different species. Fore example; a chicken to a turkey. I think they are two very different things. Don't know that it makes much difference to all of you, but my OCD demanded that I say something

And I was going to say that it really depends on the hybrid. Mules are a wonderful, sure-footed and much depended upon creature. While wolf-dogs, when created, sometimes end up in situations that are simply not appropriate for them. So for me, I would have to make that judgement on a hybrid by hybrid case.

 

[equine623]

The biggest problem with a hybrid is that you can NEVER get the pure genes back. In a case of macaws, since no more of those birds can legally be imported, the gene pool is limited enough already. And as someone already stated, crossing different breeds of the same species is one thing, its how new breeds are created and how breeds are strengthened to compensate for something that may be lacking in them currently. Crossing different species...well...would you want your daughter/wife/sister to be impregnated by a chimp if it were possible? Just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Grumpy Goats]

Quote:
I So support that!, Im a beliver... its too deep to get into, but I belive in that.

another story:

Here are the pictrues of the baby hybrids I got today! Oh, and the blue and gold and my Vosmaeri

Vos
http://img810.imageshack.us/img810/8938/vosmonkey.jpg

Blue & Gold
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/6728/bluegold.jpg

Camelot Babies Clutch 2
http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/1168/camelotbaby1.jpg

Camelot Babies Clutch 1
http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9811/ycamelot2.jpg
http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/9677/ycamelot1.jpg
http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/4188/ycamelot3.jpg

You're babies are beautiful!

 

[turney31]

Pro Hybrid here. I dearly LOVE MULES..... Ahh the natural superiority!

 

[dainerra]

Quote:
Using your chickens as an example, you are doing it for a PURPOSE right? You take birds that are healthy and breed to meet a need - more eggs, better meat production, more resistant to heat/cold, whatever. That is the point of hybrid vigor - crossing the best with the best to hopefully put the best of both in the offspring.

Of course, you also have to be very strict on culling because, by default, you are going to end up with a few who show the WORST of both bloodlines. You don't want to hatch eggs from a hen that has constant sickness issues or a poor track record of laying. Or hatch meat birds that take 3 years to get to a decent size to butcher, that would defeat the purpose.

Now, to use the poodle example above, you are talking a whole different ball of wax. Except for a few exceptions, the breeding is completely random. No thought is given to health, purpose, or future, only the $$ that can be gained quickly. With dogs/chickens/cats you aren't technically creating a hybrid. The majority of dog diseases aren't limited to a certain breed. Hip dysplasia, eye problems, etc are found in almost every breed so you can't just cross a poodle with a lab and declare the dogs to be healthy. Unfortunately, those are the sellers you usually see promoting those breedings.

So, yeah, those people I have a problem with. They are playing on people's lack of genetic knowledge and old wives tales to make money while actually sitting them up for heartbreak and a ton of expensive vet bills.

It's simply a case of a few bad apples tainting the barrel.

If you have a plan, are using healthy animals, and not deliberately trying to mislead buyers to line your pockets, then cross away!

Of course, those exact same rules apply to anyone breeding "pure" animals as well.

 

[mama24]

um, when you breed 2 different breeds together, you are NOT creating hybrids, you are creating crossbreeds, aka mutts. Big difference. Chickens are all the same species, we just have many different breeds. Now if you were to cross a chicken with a pheasant, that's a hybrid.