Question about gouldian's

[Barbara]

I have a few questions I have a pair of gouldian's they are young do not want to breed them.They were bought at a store that took all this breeders gouldian's because of a illness They are just about in full color,wasn't really interested in them when they were just babies,store was nervous taking them so young but did and they are really beautiful birds now that they are all geting there color and it worked out that I had a store credit so I decided to buy a pair.I have a red headed male and black headed female ,I was reading a article not sure if it was from the finch site or just randomly found it and it stated that in the wild a female will only breed with a male with the same color head is this why now that there are so many problems that I read about babies being abandoned or tossed?My next question is they have two different color bands on them the store said they think it was the different clutches now for all you breeders out there when you band your birds and you band different color bands is that the same parents with a second clutch or different parents completely. My male although very young and again no nest no breeding he is doing the gouldian dance and she tilts her head and wiggles for him.I am thinking this is just juvenile behavior,will they ever bond if they are brother and sister? My last question is in 2 F030 cages joined so it is about say 6 ft long 27"wide can I put two more pairs in there that are not related without any problems or will there be lots of fighting with males even if no nest?Thank-you ahead of time for any advice you experts can give me

[Barbara]

No help yet ) :

[paul-inAZ]

Not entirely true about RH-BH matings. It seems that they may have a preference for the same head colors when in the wild but given no other choice they will breed just fine. At least mine do.

In my experience, chick tossing has to be exquisitely rare. I've not had it.

Banding systems are all different. I color code all chicks from parent A and parent B with the same color, even if clutch 2 or 3. That so as to know genetics and to avoid inbreeding. For age you can put the family band on the right leg for 2016 and left next year. You do run out of legs that way. A second band in varying colors can be put on the other leg to designate the year to know how old they are if that is important to you.
There are bands with year and ID number on them but that means catching the bird and peering at very small print. Color codes are more practical for me.

[Babs _Owner]

Barbara

Sorry so late barb. My gouldians don't care about head color. Actually in my non breeding flight., ALL my females flock to my "straw faced" male blue back ( which is not found in nature).
I find my females most captivated by his strong singing.
Head color doesn't matter.

I read that article and found it silly. Especially where it claims that their chicks will have a high mortality rate if they don't breed to same head color. Laughable really.

[Barbara]

paul-inAz and Babs thank you both for the info.sometimes reading so much information contradicts so much you are trying to learn so it is so nice to talk to someone almost face to face that has first hand experience.If I wanted to take my F030 cages (they are joined) so it is about 6ft long and about 27"wide as long as I put equal amounts of male-females would they get along say not more then 3 pairs,and would they get along with a male canary .I would never breed them being related.I was thinking I would think a cage of just them would be nice they are such a quite but very curious little birds.They watch my every move and after quartine I would like them to be in one of the bigger flight cages I have.Thank-you again for your help

[paul-inAZ]

Sounds like more than enough room.
Canaries are also peaceful so there should be no conflict.

[Barbara]

Thank-you again Paul.My search is on

[finchandlovebird]

My male although very young and again no nest no breeding he is doing the gouldian dance and she tilts her head and wiggles for him.I am thinking this is just juvenile behavior,will they ever bond if they are brother and sister

Sounds like your birds are old enough, as they are indicating breeding behavior. Are their beaks black?
Brother & sister can/will breed, but shouldn't.

[Barbara]

Finchandlovebird The tip of the male is red,the female is slightly black/gray,I know they would breed even if brother and sister but there is no nest,I also know they shouldn't .Not looking to breed them.just was reading about some of the behavior

[debbie276]

The tip of the male is red,the female is slightly black/gray,

Because these birds are very young I don't think the hen's beak has changed from the juvenile black yet. It will go red like the males and then if it again turns black she is in breeding mode.
I also do not find that the head colors matter as far as healthy chicks.

best of luck