FINCHforum

Yesterday the first two fledged out of their nest and today the last three came out. They are doing quite well and mom and dad are feeding them. As there are so many in the one cage I put in two more branches as perches and lower down (about 2" off the ground) to assist the youngsters in getting the idea of perching. One was having difficulty and still doesn't know to go UP to the top. But I'm glad she's finally perching on a lower branch at least.

These are my first parent-raised Lady Goudian finches and in the clickable pic (where's Waldo?) you can see all five babies (four green females and one yellow gender unknown as yet) and the two yellow parents (one with a red head and the other with an orange head).

What cuties! Congrads!

Congrats! Aren't babies fun?

Hey Liz,

That was quick! Seemed like you just banded them just the other week. How can you tell the sexes at this age?
My two are just normals. Do you know the sexes because of them being sex-linked?
Congrats on the fledglings!

You may find your sexing a little premature when they finish the first moult.
Paul.

Thank you - they are all cuties of course and just at dusk last night all five were perched on the highest perch making me very proud. The hen is a OH-WB-YB and the cock is a RH-WB-YB. Here they are dancing...


When it comes to sexing juvies in this case it was rather easy using the Genetic Forecaster by Carlos Matos. According to his Genetic Forecaster the following are the possible results:
25% Male >> Red / Orange (Head) - White (Chest) - DF Yellow (Body)
25% Male >> Red / Orange (Head) - White (Chest) - SF Yellow (Body)
25% Female >> Red / Orange (Head) - White (Chest) - Yellow (Body)
25% Female >> Red / Orange (Head) - White (Chest) - Green (Body)

So you can see all the greenback babies have to be female. The yellowback baby is as yet undetermined until it sings or doesn't. That will be the only way to tell it's gender.

I was surprised by the high percentage of females in this clutch compared to (possible) males. It will be 80% females (at least) compared to 20% males (at most); and possibly 100% females! BTW - one egg was infertile and did not hatch.

It does seem a little odd that you would get so many females since males are more common to be born.

Congrats on the fledlings, my male is starting to do tghe jumpy thing now when he sings to the female. she is still molting but seems to actually be interested in the male now. she stays with him where ever he goes and they now sleep very close together at night.

They are so adorable. I have three little chicks in the nest now. The dad is yellow back with a purple breast and a red head. The mom is a normal with a red head. Do you know when they fledge if any of them will be yellow backs? I am so hoping for at least one yellow back.