Confusing Gouldian genetics

[debbie276]

Confusing gouldian genetics or not everyone on the same page?
Why all the confusion when it comes to genetics?
This may explain it…
Lets compare genetic terms from the most popular genetic calculators

Green – a normal green body bird
Finchbreedersdatabase, GB
Gouldianfinches.eu, Green
Gouldian genetic Forecast, Green

We seem to agree with that one.


SF Pastel – a bird with a Single Pastel gene. Males will be a lighter shade of green and all black areas are gray, hens will be visually yellow bodied
Finchbreedersdatabase, dilute (a made up term. In Australia there is a true dilute with totally different genetics)
Gouldianfinches.eu, Yellow SF (Dilute)
Gouldian Genetic Forecast, SF Yellow

The Pastel gene does create a yellow bodied bird so using “Yellow” instead of Pastel is more then understandable. Personally I think the SF and DF designation should always go before the Single and Double gene. “Dilute” should NOT be used.


DF Pastel – a male bird with Double Pastel genes. Male bird will be visually yellow bodied and all black areas white.
Finchbreedersdatabase, DF YB
Gouldianfinches.eu, Yellow DF
Gouldian Genetic Forecast, DF Yellow

All seem to agree though I believe the DF should be in front of the DF gene.


Everyone agrees on Blue


SF Pastel Blue – a bird with a Single Pastel gene and 2 Blue genes. Males will be a lighter shade of blue and all black areas will be gray. Hens will be visually white.
Finchbreederdatabase, Pastel (another made up term which really confuses those that call a yellow bird Pastel)
Gouldianfinches.eu, Pastel Blue SF
Gouldian Genetic Forecast, SF Yellow Blue

Personally I think the SF designation should always go before the Single gene. “Pastel” should NOT be used as it is here on the finchbreeders database. Even stranger is that the Gouldianfinch.eu uses SF Yellow BUT SF Pastel here. You need to use either Yellow or Pastel for the Pastel gene.


DF Pastel Blue – a male bird with Double Pastel genes and 2 Blue genes. Male bird will be visually white bodied and all black areas white.
Finchbreederdatabase, SB (silverBody, a made up term)
Gouldianfinches.eu, Silver DF (the added DF is something I’ve never seen before)
Gouldian Genetic Forecast, DF Yellow Blue

“Silver” is a made up term and should NOT be used. What is the “silver” gene that it is DF? A white bodied bird is made up of 2 different genes Pastel and Blue, hens are SF Pastel Blue and males are DF Pastel Blue in order to be a white bodied bird.


I’m sure once we are using more universal terms the gouldian genetics will not seem so confusing.

[MariusStegmann]

Yip, the different naming conventions are a bit confusing.

[Sam007]

Very informative!

[lovezebs]

http://www.aviariovera.com/the-gouldian ... el-lutino/

Now here's one that I've never heard of before......

"Pastelina" Have you ever come across this one Debbie?


This particular site has some interesting mutations, and also some interesting articles and information (if you speak Spanish, or translate into English).

[Sam007]

I have exactly similar female gouldian but with black eyes.

[debbie276]

I would guess yours is a Pastel hen Sam007
Does it have a white head or a gray head?

[Smurf]

debbie276

Here's 1 to try in both finchbreederdatabase and either of the other 2 and compare results

RH/BH PC SFYB cock x BH PC GB hen

[debbie276]

debbie276

Here's 1 to try in both finchbreederdatabase and either of the other 2 and compare results

RH/BH PC SFYB cock x BH PC GB hen

Yeah, that doesn't turn out to well does it??
Good catch

[MAB1947]

I am puzzled by two of my PB/BB cocks, brothers. They are a year old and have gray heads with black rings. They have a pastel BB brother who has a salmon head.

Their parents are a BH,PB/WB,BB hen and a OH, PB/WB,dilute/BB cock. Is it the genetics or is there something weird going on with them?

Thanks for all the great information you all post!
Mary Ann

[Stephanie]

Here's a summary of the mutation terminology from a well known Gouldian Finch specialist book. I like this naming system because it's consistent and easy to understand, but I guess there can be no absolute right or wrong for hobbyists: http://www.finchstuff.com/gouldianmutations

[MAB1947]

Thank you Stephanie. I will give it a close read.

[GouldianGuy]

For those who need a crash course in Mendelian Genetics, check out the AFA website and look at Module 4:

http://www.afabirds.org/avianbioclassroom.shtml

[MAB1947]

Thank you!