Thought this was a no-brainer until...

[L in Ontario]

They threw me a curve ball!

I have a pair of Gouldians that are YTB,PB,GB (the male is supposed split to blue but I've never got a blue from him). So they are paired up and laid 6 eggs and then 6 more before the first 6 hatched. They tossed/injured the first one and then abandoned the nest. All eggs removed and I managed to get 4 hatched/fostered by Socs and 3 hatched/fostered. The first four are all green as I suspected. The other 3 were supposed to be green as well. The GF says they will only beget YTB,PB,GB chicks. Well here's a pic of the "other three today"!

Also as mentioned in another thread - the original YTB parents have laid another 6 eggs and all were fertile. They are due to hatch tomorrow. So far they have tossed on yesterday and ate the shell. When I got home an hour ago - found another egg in the nest that they've eaten part of the shell. The chick is now dead in the remaining shell. I'm worried for the last 4 eggs PLUS they've laid two more eggs!

The male was a great father last season. What's going on with this pair? The male was hatched in 2007 and the hen is new to me and hatched 2009.

Where did that yellow chick come from?! What genetics are this pair hiding?

[L in Ontario]

Here's a pic of the paired up YTB's.

[annague]

Sounds like gouldians are keeping your life interesting!

[L in Ontario]

Ha ha ha - I could use a little less interesting and a little more parenting from this pair!

But that yellow chick really has me stumped! I'm very very happy with it but stumped all the same.

[CandoAviary]

If he had been a dilute a yellow would be possible... otherwise I would say another male got to her.
Sorry they are being such louzy parents...... they can be frustrating sometimes...these gouldians

[L in Ontario]

Thanks Candace. This is the first pairing of my Gouldians after being split up from last season (males with the males in their own cages and hens in separate cages with other hens).

[lovemyfinch]

Congrats on the YB Liz

Just throwing it out there, but can it happen that a male would be SFY and just be a darker green in colour than the norm

[L in Ontario]

Congrats on the YB Liz

Just throwing it out there, but can it happen that a male would be SFY and just be a darker green in colour than the norm

Almost Janine. My daughter finally figured it out - silly fids!! The foster Gouldians had their own 5 eggs and tossed what I thought was the first to hatch. Actually the yellow has to be theirs as the foster hen is yellow and the cock is dilute. So they hatched the 3 foster eggs plus one of their own but tossed one of the foster hatchlings. Booo... leaving 2 foster hatchlings and one of their own. Mystery solved. Go figure!

It's almost like aviary breeding!

[lovemyfinch]

Mystery solved

[L in Ontario]

Yes - the silly birds had me completely fooled! I'm so happy the foster Goulds have managed to keep one of their own.

[nixity]

Liz - looks like the center chick in that photo with the yellow must have been a foster egg too, looks like a Dilute to me! ;)

[L in Ontario]

Liz - looks like the center chick in that photo with the yellow must have been a foster egg too, looks like a Dilute to me! ;)

I don't see yellow on that one yet but should be able to tell in a couple of days! How bizzare!

[annague]

Well at least the mystery is solved (thank God for our kids, right?) AND you have some beautiful chicks -- even if they are necessarily of the parentage you thought.

Hopefully your pair of tossers will settle down again.

[L in Ontario]

Thank you Anna. I guess I'll find out when I get home tonight...

I hate my job getting in the way of my real life!