DARK EYE CLEARS – RARE IN AUSTRALIA
During the year 2002 the Ram stud has been successful in acquiring two new varieties of Budgerigars.
The first variety is a very old variety, almost extinct in Australia, known as “Dark Eye Clears” (DEC).
The second variety to come into the aviaries is a not so old variety, but still rare, and that is the Saddleback.
Both varieties were not easy to obtain.
DARK EYE CLEARS
The background to this beautiful variety, the Dark Eye Clear, as far as I understand, dates back to around 1948. They first appeared in Belgium and then Holland around the same time,1948-1950. The Continental Clearflight and Danish Recessive Pieds were breeding in a colony system, and as a result Dark Eye Clears were appearing in the aviaries.
The Dark Eye Clears resemble the Lutino and the Albino as they are a buttercup colour in the green series, and pure white in the blue series birds. Dark Eye Clears, as their name indicates, have a clear dark plum coloured eye with no white iris ring. The general body colour has no suffusion and no lacing on the wings. I look to my DECs in the Recessive Pied line as to those in the hobby breeding double factor spangles.
BREEDING DARK EYE CLEARS
I consider this variety of budgerigar to be the most confusing variety to understand as to the genetics of the Dark Eye Clear .The DEC has one dominant gene that is the Clearflight gene and two recessive genes (Recessive Pied). As not to confuse you with genetics, I will give you a guide on my pairings to produce DECs. Further to this you can check out Ghalib Al -Nasser @ www.tuxford.dabsol.co.uk/alnasser/article 9.htm Ghalib gives a very good account of the breakdown of the genetic breeding behaviour and is well worth a look.
First Pairing
I have started with one pair of buttercup yellow DECs this year which has produced seven chicks.
I have now broken up this first pair and started my second pairing.
Second Pairing
DEC cock has been paired to a Normal/Rec.Lt.Green Hen
DEC hen has been paired to a Normal/Rec.Grey Cock.
The result of the pairing so far has been four Dark Eye Clear chicks and are looking good re size (yellow in colour).
Expectation on this Pairing
25% Dark Eye Clears
25% Continental Clearflight/Recessive Pieds
25% Recessive Pieds
25% Normal/Recessive Pieds
Next year I will pair DECs to Recessive Pieds resulting in 50% DECs and 50% Recessive Pieds – pairing up for size and feather. It is a long road to bring this rare and beautiful variety up to show quality but well worth it, and only time will tell.