FINCHforum

I wasn't going to put a red with a yellow canary.
But, I can't locate any red hens, and I need two.
This yellow hen was laying dudd eggs, so I gave her a male.

I was always told it wasn't a good mix.
If anyone else has done it, can you post some pics?

Jerry

I've paired a yellow timbrado male with a red factor stafford hen for a few clutches. Got a nice mixture of yellow and "pineapple" orange chicks without using artificial color enhancers. The males also sang exceptionally well. Don't know if I have any pictures of the offspring, but if I can dig some up, I'll post. Bob

Don't worry about it, you will get beautifully colored canary babies. The true color will not be evident until after the first moult. I have experimented with different colors such as this kind of mix and love the offspring colors.

Thanks guys!

That's what I thought.
How bad could they look?
You have to work with what you got.
She wants to breed and this morning
he was treading her.
Until I get some red hens and another yellow
or white male for her, I will keep them together.

Jerry

Here are a couple! (These were babies from my yellow timbrado X red factor stafford) Bob

Thanks! Nothing wrong with them,
maybe a little colour food to even out the feathers.

Jerry

Thanks! Nothing wrong with them,
maybe a little colour food to even out the feathers.

I was happy with them just the way they were. I never used canthaxanthin or artificial beta carotenoids with my birds - only sweet potatoes, beets and carrots. My pure red factors never got to "intense" red, but some moulted out to a quite beautiful dark orange. Just my opininion, but I think that a bright red canary looks very "artificial" for some reason. No offense to those who color feed. Bob

That 'yellow' looks like she has some red factor in her anyway. I agree that the colourfed birds look very contrived. I like thd natural orange, and find it is enhanced when thd birds are fed aphids, which they absolutely love.

Bob, those pineapple looking babies are amazing!

I wonder how much of those "Red Canaries" are Siskin, and how much are original canary genes? Anyone know?

Just curious.


Zebrafincher
Proud owner of:
“Kevin the King”, groutchy, cranky canary – 12 years
Beaky the Zebbie – 9 months old – a real, real cutie!!!
Merlin “Merl” the Starfinch – 2 years – and “bossy as anything for such a small fry!”

Thanks Beaker's mom! I do miss breeding canaries and I'm almost tempted to get back into it again. My family would probably disown me if I did, though as they've gotten very used to a quieter house.

Zebrafincher, the original crosses of the siskin/canary were done over 100 years ago, so other than the red color, I doubt that there is very much siskin left in them. Some modern day breeders still attempt the cross, but I'm sure it's done on a very small scale. Bob

All four eggs were blanks!
They should start up again soon.
If I find a red hen and another yellow male
I will split them up.

Jerry