Guinea Fowl Hybrid.

[Lordcluck]

Apologies if I've posted this before?!! Many will have seen this picture on other forums as well, but this is, or should I say was Egbert. His father was a Pied Guineafowl cock and his mother a bearded black Mottled cross bred Farmyard Bantam. Today marks the one year anniversary of his passing of old age, Eggy made it to ten years old!

http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq26/Lordcluck/Hybrid.jpg

 

[Philcott]

Now that is a strange looking bird! Amazing!

 

[Marigold]

He's lovely - and what an age to live to. I presume he was an infertile crossbreed? I have read about projects last century to cross quail with bantams, and some hybrids were actually produced, but like all 'mules' they were infertile and of no commercial value as larger egg producers than quail.

 

[Lordcluck]

He's lovely - and what an age to live to. I presume he was an infertile crossbreed? I have read about projects last century to cross quail with bantams, and some hybrids were actually produced, but like all 'mules' they were infertile and of no commercial value as larger egg producers than quail.

Yes He was Sterile Marigold, in fact although I call him a 'He' I was never sure of 'His" sex?!. Neither Eggy , nor his/her beardless sibling ( Who passed away at seven years of age) never laid an egg either, or showed any sexual interest in Guineafowl or Chickens!

 

[Mark1985]

but like all 'mules' they were infertile .

not all hybrids are infertile, in fact fertile hybrids amoung birds are actualy quite common, it mostely depends on how closely related the parent species are. canary 'mules' (crosses between domestic canary and native european finches) have varying degrees of fertility, females are generaly regarded as sterile, but still produce eggs (just not viable ones) and are often used as foster parents for rarer finches or as standby fosters for tempramental parents. the males have been known to have varying degrees of fertility, twite/siskin/greenfinch mules have all been know for males (and occasionaly females) to be fertile from time to time.
in birds of prey hybrids are very often fertile, buzzard hybrids are usualy as fertile as either parent species, and many falcon hybrids are also very fertile.
wether the same rules apply to poultry though i do not know, though i have heard of pheasant X chicken hybrids that were indeed fertile!

 

[tiny_tam]

This is amazing! I am surprised that he lived so long. Was he in good health during his lifetime? Was his behavior more like a chicken or a guinea fowl? Which species did he prefer to hang out with? I would like to know more about Egbert!