FINCHforum

I have noted that my RH, WC, GB male and female are the parents of a few fledglings I have. One of them however has a Purple Chest.

The laws of genetics tell me that 2 WC parents can't produce a PC chick.
The question becomes "Who's your daddy?"

So I checked my records.
On 09-19-2011, my only RH, PC, GB male died.
On 10-30-1011 a RH, PC, GB male hatched.

Genetics tell me me that the deceased bird is this chicks father, however the calendar tells me that's quite a stretch. From death to hatching was 50 days. 14 days to incubate, 7 days wait to start incubation = 21 days. This leaves 29 days of mating to egg laying. Is that possible?

Could I have a PC from WC parents? I think you'll say no.
Could he have actually fledged on 10-30 instead of being hatched on 10-30? Help me make sense of this.

Thanks,
Steve

Yep... the chicks most definately have a different daddy.
Gouldians are not monogomous and they can store sperm for quite some time before using it to fertilize eggs. This article claims 16 days... but I would assume under optimum circumstances it could be stored within the female for longer... as it seems to be the case with your girl
http://gouldianfinch.info/breeding/eggs.htm

I know they can store sperm, like Candace said, for around two weeks. If that is added to your numbers, it may prove to be the PC's baby