Odd Gouldian Coloring

[Rox]

debbie276@monotwine

Ladies, is this lilac breasted? Looks like I have 2 lilac breasted hens from the same parents as wonky bird. I'm rather annoyed now that I sold their first 2 clutches while they were still uncoloured (I was tight on space). Would love to know how they turned out...





And then we have wonky bird that at least I now know is a male. Not sure what's going on with the rest of him though. We hit a cold front yesterday. Poured with rain and the temps dropped. This poor fellow felt it.

Purple or lilac?

[lovezebs]

Rox

Poor little guy, he does not look at all happy. Droopy and cold

I really hope he pulls through

[debbie276]

The hen on the left looks PB to me but the one in the middle could be LB. In hens LB is a VERY pale pink.
The second picture, again left side could be LB but right is a PB male.
Your "wonky" bird looks PB. I've got a feeling he is going to color out like a normal green and those wonky feathers will disappear. Can't wait to see him molted.

They all look so sad and miserable. Do you have extra heat on them? Be sure to give high quality, high protein foods in these conditions. Don't dilute the high protein food with filler low nutrition stuff.

Sure hope the weather gets better for you and them. That's the drawback to outdoor aviaries.
best of luck, keep us posted

[Rox]

debbie276@lovezebs

He is fine. They all are, thank goodness. He is actually sitting on the heat lamp in the one pic above and they get high protein egg food daily, along with their greens. This weather is crazy and nerve wrecking We went from 14'C on Sunday to 31' today. It's sweltering outside!

Debbie, thanks, I do appreciate the feedback! I am hoping that I have two lilac breasted hens. I haven't seen the lilac color in person before, so I'm not totally sure. And yes, I think wonky bird will be normal green. Oh well, it has been very interesting to watch playout

More pic's taken yesterday. Shame, they are all in various stages of looking like train wrecks at the moment.

[debbie276]

That is actually a pretty good comparison picture.
The picture with four birds, left to right ...
RH.WB.SF Pastel male
BH.PB.Green hen
RH.LB.Green hen
BH.PB.Green male

I'm sure they will come around when the weather improves
best of luck

[Rox]

debbie276 thank you so much!

So weird how the lilac has just popped out. It didn't show up in either of their parents clutches.

[Rox]

debbie276 lovezebs

Aren't they looking better Hot weather suits them

[debbie276]

They look wonderful!
Your odd one is going to be a BH YTB (BlackHead YellowTippedBeak) too which makes him genetically a YH

[lovezebs]

Rox

Looking much better Roxanne.
I see your Zebra Gouldian, is still with us .

I'm still curious to see if he retains the stripes after he molts (?)

[Babs _Owner]

Rox

Rox I can't see the pictures

[Rox]

debbie276@lovezebs, thanks! I always get nervous when the cold front hits but they are much stronger than we give them credit for. Another 2-3 weeks and they should all finally be done molting!

Debbie, thanks for pointing out that the odd one will be YTB - I hadn't even noticed! I'm not sure if I will keep him. He is quite smaller than the other males and I prefer the bigger goulds. It will all depend on what his final color is. I'm definitely keeping the YH WB male though for next season. He is a beaut!

@Babs sorry, not sure why the pic's aren't working for you

[lovezebs]

Rox debbie276

You mentioned 'size', which brought to mind a question that I have been pondering for a while.

What determines size in these guys?
Whenever I've brought some of my kids to the Pet Shop, I am told that my boys are 'giants'. I would put it down to just flattery from the bird people, however I've had other people (who didn't know these were my birds) mention the 'giant' Gould males in the same shop. Also when I buy new birds from other breeders, they are always smaller than the kids that I've bred (hence the name Tiny, given to one male that I bought, who went on to breed and raise some of these so called giant boys)

What's up with that? I am truly puzzled (?)

[Rox]

lovezebs

Elana, you definitely get the two different size gouldians and it comes down to personal preference at the end of the day. I prefer the bigger, chunky type gouldian and keep those to breed with. Others just prefer the smaller birds.

Which one is more in line with the wild type, I have no idea...

[debbie276]

I'm sure genetics plays a large roll in size along with nutrition and wellness. Many inbred birds will be smaller.
Wild gouldian finch are about 6 inches (15 cm) long and weigh about 0.5 ounces (15 g)
They seem to be getting larger in captivity though. There were several posts about it but I can't seem to find them now.

[WesKnapp]

any post-molting pictures of the one with the textured back appearance?