New flight cage for my Gouldians

[debbie276]

The one on the left looks to be the male to me. He looks a bit melanistic in the picture.

[skyjump100]

Thanks Dante and Debbie, I agree with you both and the male is on the left. Thanks for the tips on the differences in markings, Debbie, could you explain what you mean by melanistic please as not sure I've heard that term before!

[debbie276]

A site with pictures and brief explanation:
http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/engoulm03.htm

In the beginning people thought that the Melanistic Gouldian was a new mutation, but it seems this appearance started outside of the genetic factors and is therefore named “modification”.
This change of phenotype can be caused by a lack of suitable light, but a hormonal cause is also possible.
Melanistic birds can produce melanistic babies, but its also possible they will revert back to the normal colour after moulting.

[skyjump100]

Thanks Debbie, The website is really interesting. Never knew there were 'modifications' like this. I will look at the red heads in a whole new light

[PrettyBird]

I am sure the one on the right is the hen. The males are brighter, have a larger blue band around their head and hens get black beaks

I agree male left, female on the right.

Yea sorry about that. I would leave the two red heads together since they are moulting.
As for blue boy and his mate. Well you never know! I would just leave them be

Good luck with them and let us know what happens

[PrettyBird]

A site with pictures and brief explanation:
http://users.skynet.be/fa398872/engoulm03.htm

In the beginning people thought that the Melanistic Gouldian was a new mutation, but it seems this appearance started outside of the genetic factors and is therefore named “modification”.
This change of phenotype can be caused by a lack of suitable light, but a hormonal cause is also possible.
Melanistic birds can produce melanistic babies, but its also possible they will revert back to the normal colour after moulting.

Is his male melanistic or is he a "bad white breast"?

[DanteD716]

Simon, pray that he is a melanistic and not a bad dirty white breast!! They are beautiful!!

[debbie276]

Could be either, it should molt out with the next molt and a good diet either way.

[skyjump100]

After studying the pictures again I'm leaning towards the dirty white breast side but difficult to tell as I've not seen (as far as I know) a melanistic in real life so not really sure what I'm looking for.

[skyjump100]

Morning guys,
I can confirm that you are 100% correct about which of the red heads is the male. This morning he broke into his song which I hadd never heard before. The blue boy has never sung as far as I know. Great to know we are now sure which is which. He still looks scraggy from his moult but hopefully they will get over it soon.

[kenny66]

Goulds dont like to mate if they are molting. They prefer wooden nest boxes but I have had mine nest in cocoanuts and wicker baskets. I have about 10 pr breeding right now as it is our breeding season. I am not convinced about gouldian pairs having to be "bonded" but that is another debate. All of my gouldian nesting recepticles have a perch on the outside built in to them or a perch is placed near them. Gouldians appear to prefer this. I would limit the nest to 2 in your cage, one on either side of the cage placed fairly high up. When I have had gouldians in a setup similar to yours I provided a brush screen hanging from the roof of the cage which broke up the line of sight from either bird whilst they were near their nest boxes. For positioning my birds prefer their nest boxes facing north but in your situation with artificial lighting this may not be relevant. I think your birds need to finish their molt and then come into breeding conditon before they will properly pair up and mate. Both cock and hen need to be in sync with both hormone levels and breeding condition before successful breeding will occur. cocks chasing hens is normal pre breeding behaviour.

[skyjump100]

HI Kenny,

The redheads are in their own cage at the moment with all the moulting tonics etc and no nesting box. I hear your advice and will leave them to get over their moult before putting them anywhere near a nesting box. The blue pair are in the big cage with the nest boxes and still behave bizarrely by sleeping in one nest box and investigating the other one during the day.

One question tho, do females call to the males? The blue pair female seems to be calling to the red head male across the room. Whilst not attacking the male the blue female certainly isnt interested in mating with him.
My plan is to let the reds finish their moult and them put them back in the flight cage with the blues and see who partners up with who. Is this the right thing to do or just leave them in their current pairings?

Cheers

[kenny66]

it really is impossible to say, either can work. I have mine in a large aviary and they still bicker over nest sites. I have never noticed any difference between breeding in a group or single pairs. I would not worry about trying to select mates but leave your pairing as it is. Forget about who is calling to who and and who is better suited etc etc etc. you will over think it and drive yourself crazy. It can be very stressful to have four birds in one cage and dealing with all of the dynamics such as territorial disputes and compatibility between 2 couples. I believe your birds will breed irrespective of pairing. My advice is let them finish the molt, keep to your original pairing and keep the pairs in separate cages. Give then good food and clean water and the hormones will kick in.

[skyjump100]

Thanks Kenny,
Your advice sounds fine so will leave things as they are and see what happens