Feather type - buff or yellow?

[Clairecanary15]

Hi

I am new to canary breeding and have 18 canaries and sadly not long found out that it is important to know an individual canaries feather type. A yellow x yellow is not at all advised and a buff x buff can lead to feather issues etc. I have learnt a yellow x buff or a buff x yellow is the norm.

I look at my canaries and some are obvious and others are not. I have so many questions Can some one help me work out which is which? I have attached pictures of my collection. I would also like to know what each type name is to...




I also have 3 chicks - pictures attached below. The father is a 'Blue' named Sugar and the mother is called Angel. Is Angel a buff and Sugar a yellow? How do I know what type and feather type the chicks are? Im finding it all very confusing and had no idea about feather types... I am presuming it is very important to get if right to avoid lumpy feathers in a double buff and the lethal factor in double yellow pairing - help...any little thread of advice would be such a help

[Clairecanary15]

Sorry images were missing and I hadn't noticed. I was unable to edit the original post so am inserting them again.

My collection:




and the 3 chicks:

[Sheather]

No images are showing. Upload the pictures to Imgur.com and copy the urls. Also pairing buff x buff is harmless in most canaries.

[Clairecanary15]

Hi Dylan

Phew good to know about the buffs - I don't feel so panicked now.

I have uploaded the pictures to Imgur, please see below. I would still like to know which is a buff and which is a yellow and what is the type of each canary... How do I tell the difference between a buff and a yellow?





Claire

[Flight Feathers]

What is a feather type and how do you tell the difference?

[Clairecanary15]

Hi Flight Feathers

I have not long found out that with canaries there are 2 feather types.

A buff
or, A yellow

An individual canary will be either a buff or a yellow. I was confused when my Angel was said to be a 3/4 buff??

The buff and yellow is not referring to colour; it refers to the feather structure.

I remember buff for fluff. A buff feathered canary has softer feathers, almost scruffy, and the colour does not go to the ends. A frosted canary is a good example. My Lemon and Honey are both frosted and I reckon (could be very wrong) that they are both buffs. Are all frosted buffs?? I also presume that my River is a buff because she looks soft and fluffy. I have also been told that Angel is a buff!? Ive got no clue on how to tell with her - I need help on this too. I have read that a buff x buff can lead to lumpy feather issues but have been advised its not to much of an issue... I suppose if I keep breeding buff x buffs with one another it isn't so good. I think the Gloucester are buff x buffs with an intervention of a yellow x buff every 2-3 years to help bring the soft feather back into condition...

A yellow is where the colour covers the entire length of the feather and it is harder and not so soft. Im wondering if my Apricot is a Yellow feather type? I also understand that a yellow x yellow feather type leads to the "lethal factor" = eggs dont hatch and if they do the young chicks die soon after hatching. My Jelly Bean and Apricot paired up and Im wondering if Jelly bean is also a Yellow feather type? The eggs did not hatch...

Do you know the feather type of your canaries? Can we help each other on this fundamental problem.

I seem to be asking an important question and Im coming up empty - or is it a canary issue that is not worried about to much?

I eagerly wait a reply

Claire

[Flight Feathers]

Hi Flight Feathers

I have not long found out that with canaries there are 2 feather types.

A buff
or, A yellow

An individual canary will be either a buff or a yellow. I was confused when my Angel was said to be a 3/4 buff??

The buff and yellow is not referring to colour; it refers to the feather structure.

I remember buff for fluff. A buff feathered canary has softer feathers, almost scruffy, and the colour does not go to the ends. A frosted canary is a good example. My Lemon and Honey are both frosted and I reckon (could be very wrong) that they are both buffs. Are all frosted buffs?? I also presume that my River is a buff because she looks soft and fluffy. I have also been told that Angel is a buff!? Ive got no clue on how to tell with her - I need help on this too. I have read that a buff x buff can lead to lumpy feather issues but have been advised its not to much of an issue... I suppose if I keep breeding buff x buffs with one another it isn't so good. I think the Gloucester are buff x buffs with an intervention of a yellow x buff every 2-3 years to help bring the soft feather back into condition...

A yellow is where the colour covers the entire length of the feather and it is harder and not so soft. Im wondering if my Apricot is a Yellow feather type? I also understand that a yellow x yellow feather type leads to the "lethal factor" = eggs dont hatch and if they do the young chicks die soon after hatching. My Jelly Bean and Apricot paired up and Im wondering if Jelly bean is also a Yellow feather type? The eggs did not hatch...

Do you know the feather type of your canaries? Can we help each other on this fundamental problem.

I seem to be asking an important question and Im coming up empty - or is it a canary issue that is not worried about to much?

I eagerly wait a reply

Claire

Hi Claire!

That is very interesting - I never knew about the feather types!

I’ve not sure what my canaries feather type are although they have hatched babies before (who soon after went splat on the floor and died) It was a bad nest for sure.

From what you’ve said, I am thinking Buff perhaps?

I will post a pic of them soon and maybe you will be able to tell!

[Flight Feathers]

Hi Dylan

Phew good to know about the buffs - I don't feel so panicked now.

I have uploaded the pictures to Imgur, please see below. I would still like to know which is a buff and which is a yellow and what is the type of each canary... How do I tell the difference between a buff and a yellow?

[ https://i.imgur.com/yW7PWBO.png ]
[ https://i.imgur.com/XK7SZQ3.png ]
[ https://i.imgur.com/5fEDPnV.png ]

Claire

Wow! Are these all your canaries?! You have quite a collection there! They are all super cute and gorgeous too!

[Clairecanary15]

Hi Dylan

Yes they are all mine and they are all lovely and very cheeky too. They are keeping me very busy at the moment with nests and chicks.

I have 15 adults, 3 juveniles and 3 chicks at the moment... so that makes omg 21. Pics above, I have another hen - Angel about to hatch her eggs and another 3 other hens sat on nests...Lemon, Spike and Toffee.

I have made a Hen/Cock and chick diary to keep track of them all.

My first breeding year is very busy - wow,

Claire

[Clairecanary15]

Hi Flight Feathers

I am so close to be sure what is a buff and a yellow feather type.

I will do a fresh post once I am 100% certain in the next day or 2. So close...

Upload your pictures - would love to see your canaries - they are such cute little birds. I will be able to tell you if they are buffs or yellows and if Im not too sure I will definitely know very soon.

Claire

[Flight Feathers]

Hi Flight Feathers

I am so close to be sure what is a buff and a yellow feather type.

I will do a fresh post once I am 100% certain in the next day or 2. So close...

Upload your pictures - would love to see your canaries - they are such cute little birds. I will be able to tell you if they are buffs or yellows and if Im not too sure I will definitely know very soon.

Claire

Okay thank you! I will upload a pic of my girl - Lightning. I don’t color feed my canaries which is why their feathers arent very bright but I think they look cute that way

[Flight Feathers]

Here she is! I will try and get some more pics today.

[Clairecanary15]

Hi

Oh she is gorgeous - very very cute indeed. Is she friendly with you - likes to perch on you?

Now as I am still in the throws of learning - I would guess that she is a yellow feather type...

She looks very smooth and rich in colour. I dont go down the colour feeding line either. My Apricot is a red factor but now she is a pastel orange bless her...if I colour fed her all my others of lighter colours would turn pink...

Cant wait to see your other pictures,

Claire

[Flight Feathers]

Hi

Oh she is gorgeous - very very cute indeed. Is she friendly with you - likes to perch on you?

Now as I am still in the throws of learning - I would guess that she is a yellow feather type...

She looks very smooth and rich in colour. I dont go down the colour feeding line either. My Apricot is a red factor but now she is a pastel orange bless her...if I colour fed her all my others of lighter colours would turn pink...

Cant wait to see your other pictures,

Claire

Thanks so much! No she doesn’t perch on me although I use to hand feed her greens I haven’t done it in ages tho!

Okay thanks! I need to get some more pics of her - will try to post some soon as well as pics of my male

Yes I love the colors of canaries when they aren’t color fed. They have nice lighter colors.

Thanks!

[Clairecanary15]

I have a stool I sit on in my aviary with a treat . .lovely and relaxing. At the moment I dont sit in there because of sitting hens...they get nervous. When I go in every week and clean they still say hi and watch me.
I had to clean a hens bottom the other week and as she was being held with her butt in the warm water the others were sat on my arm and shoulders watching..they are so nosey lol but very cute with it. Hen is good now..she keeps coming up to me on the ledges to say hi.

Claire