http://www.furaffinity.net/view/1080887/ Tiki, our green cheek conure Says HI! Back ^.^

What a cutie! I haven't seen that particular hybrid before.

Thanks! I hadn't, either, until she came up for adoption. I'm a bit on the anti-hybrid parrot side of the spectrum, but I was very impressed with her parents, and Kaya herself was just such a sweetie that I couldn't resist. She's just over a year and I've had her since November. Her first owner got her and promptly also obtained a new job and boyfriend who didn't enjoy birds, so she got almost no handling in that first year. But she's apparently forgiven that, and after a bit of adjustment is very sweet with me. :)

I'm glad you could give her a good home and she turned out to be such a wonderful bird! I have been into birds practically since I was born, so I remember the old-school attitude of absolutely no hybrids. I'll admit I have anti-hybrid leanings as well but less so than I did 15 years ago. I don't like diluting the gene pool for the different species, but at the same time we're working towards domestication and these birds aren't going to go back into the wild - so if they are healthy and behaviorally sound, its not a whole lot different than other hybridizations.

Yes...my concerns re hybrids are more that even if the birds will never be released back into the wild, the state of wild parrots are such that it is conceivable that the only remaining ones of some popularly kept pet species, especially the big macaws, may be captive...a grim possibility but unfortunately a real one. On the other hand, I agree with everything you said about breeding towards calmer pets who are happier as pets...especially with poicephalus, who are often rather shy parrots. And Kaya's father, the first generation sennie/Meyer's cross, is an amazing bird...fully bonded to his human despite the fact that he has a parrot mate. There is a youtube video of him feeding his chicks WITH the breeder, AFTER she pulled them for handfeeding. Which is as you know really rare in a breeding parrot. Hard to say no to Miss Kaya after that, especially since she's a perfect bird for me in every other way, :)