The ChirpnTails--Amazons, African Grey, Ringnecks & Standard Poodle : Genetics & Eggs

BASICS of COLOR BREEDING
Ringnecks come in a large variety of colors, called mutations. Green is the normal color and from that has come hundreds of other colors and combination of colors & patterns.

SEX LINKED RECESSIVE
This means the male-ONLY can carry that split.
Mother can be visual but can not carry it recessively.
Sex-linked colors are Lutino, Albino, Cinnamon.
If the mother is NOT a visual of that particular sex-linked
color, the chick is always female.
Example:
if two green birds produce a lutino, it's a female.
But if green x lutino, the lutino chicks could be either sex.

AUTOSOMAL RECESSIVE
This means BOTH parents must carry that color either
visually or recessively (or called split) in order to produce visuals.
Autosomal recessives are Blue, Turquoise.
Example:
if two green birds produce a blue, you know that both parents
carry that color recessively (called splits).
These chicks can be either sex.

These are just basics. When working with multiple mutations,
it becomes a bit more complicated.

Above are my Yellownaped Amazon chicks at 4 weeks of age showing enormous growth from hatch

Reproduction in birds is a fascinating study and has many similarities to human reproduction but yet quite different; simple yet complex. All the genetic makeup and food supply is packaged neatly together into a shell to produce the next generation of that species.

*yolk which provides nourishment to the developing embryo through connecting blood vessels (which are seen when candeling)

*ovum (small opaque spot at corner of yolk) if fertilized becomes the embryo once incubation is started

The ovum (future chick if fertilized & incubated) remains inactive until "increased seasonal light" absorbed through eyes AND extraretinal receptors in soft spongy bone structure of the head of the hen, triggers follicle-stimulating hormones (FSH) to kick into gear.

Decreased light has opposite effect causing depression of follicle growth & egg production ceases.
(see "Importance of Full-Spectrum Lighting" in article below).

As the sexually mature hen is stimulated into reproduction, the ovum is held in the follicle on the ovary where the yolk develops over a period of several days. Once mature, the ovum with its yolk ruptures free of the ovary to begin the 24-to-26 hour journey down the reproductive tract.

1) Fertilization of the ovum (if it's to take place) occurs in the upper funnel end of the oviduct, call the infundibulum, also referred to as the sperm pocket. This fertilization process takes approximately 15 minutes.

2) Then the fertilized ovum travels to the magnum where it spends approximately 3 hours while the albumen protein (egg white) is secreted.

3) Further down the tract in the isthmus, two shell membranes are secreted loosely around the ovum and albumen, which takes approximately 1-1/2 hours.

4) This soft egg continues its journey into the uterus (shell gland) where it stays for 20-21 hours while the shell is secreted in layers over the membrane.

5) Once shell is fully formed and hardened, the egg is then passed immediately through the vagina where it is 'laid'.

Again this total process takes 24-26 hours from time ovum starts down oviduct. As one egg is finishing the journey, another one is starting, repeating until full clutch is laid. Eggs of most psittacines are laid every other day. Clutch sizes vary with different species but most average 3-5 eggs per clutch.

Occasionally there will be a delay where several eggs accumulate in the oviduct at the same time which causes eggbinding, and/or premature expelling of soft shelled eggs. If eggs are rushed or pushed through the uterus (shell gland) prematurely, the hard shell covering is absent.

As egg is incubated and growth begins, the embryo (blastoderm) forms three separate layers; within each layer the development of separate body parts takes place:

*While in the uterus, all egg shells are white. The addition of the various colors of different species occurs after the egg leaves the uterus, just before it is laid. (gently rub a brown chicken egg with sandpaper and the white shell will be visible)

*Unlike human reproduction where sperm determines sex; in birds the sex is predetermined by the hen BEFORE ovulation and BEFORE ferilization occurs. This, according to Harrison & Harrison, is because female is heterozygous whereas male is homozygous.

*Unlike reptile eggs where sex appears to be determined by incubated temperatures (more males at warmer temps, more females at cooler temps); this does not occur with birds, because again sex is predetermined before egg is ovulated & fertilized.

Information supplied in this article is expressed opinion of author who believes to be true after extensive research.

NOTE: Copyright material cannot be used for any purpose other than this website without written permission of author.

Although not shown in this photo, I use 4-foot long (inexpensive) shoplights above cages, with full spectrum tubes, and set on timers to provide 12 hours of light per day for non-breeding birds, gradually extending photoperiods 1 hour per month to not exceed 18 hours to bring birds into breeding season. Once egg-laying starts I decrease photoperiods 1 hour per month until back down to 12 hours

There's much yet to be learned about 'complete' effects of full-spectrum lighting but aviculturists who breed birds indoors without benefit of natural sunlight, have found full-spectrum next best to the real thing.

Full-spectrum, as the name implies, has the entire spectrum of colors equivalent to natural, unfiltered noon-time sunlight. This broad range of colors includes the all-important ultraviolet rays not found in regular fluorescent lighting.

Ultraviolet rays (both UVA and UVB) absorbed by the bird are necessary to convert Vitamin D to its "active form" which then enables it to be utilized. Without UV's, the bird cannot properly process Vitamin D, becomes deficient and may develop rickets. And without the activated Vitamin D, the bird is unable to absorb calcium which can result in soft bone tissue, skeleton and beak deformatives, particularly in very young birds.

So this means a bird can be fed a highly-nutritious, well-balanced diet but without the benefit of UVs to convert Vitamin D (esp D3), the bird is unable to assimilate these important nutrients.

(Some mistakenly believe adding more Vit. D to diet with supplements will solve this problem, but D3 can be toxic when given in excess.)

Since full-spectrum lighting makes it possible to absorb & utilize nutrients, it stands to reason that it would also improve skin & plumage, overall wellbeing, encourage breeding behavior both nutritionally & through lengthened photoperiods. (Photoperiods means gradual increase/decrease in hours of seasonal light.)

Natural sunlight passing through glass windows filters out the important and necessary ultraviolet rays so is of little value from a nutritional standpoint. Although sunlight filtered through glass 'can' stimulate a hen into egg production, it does not allow absorption of nutrients which would ultimately affect the overall health of the hen and resulting chicks.

Plexiglass, on the other hand, allows UVA and UVB rays to pass through and can be beneficial for birds and other animals (particularly UVB for absorption of Vitamin D and D3). Many breeders are installing plexiglass windows in their aviaries to avoid using artificial lighting when sufficient sunlight is available.

For a number of years Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon has been conducting studies on the seasonal light disorder (SAD) which affects many people living in the long, dark, rainy winter months of the Pacific Northwest. They found that light therapy has drastically reduced depression along with varied health problems associated with this seasonal light disorder. Individuals participating in case studies have shown marked improvement in overall well being, increased energy, more zest for life.

In their studies, OHSU researchers have found a correlation between full-spectrum light, lengthened photoperiods, and the PINEAL GLAND, a small pinecone-shaped gland