Red/Yellow faced stars

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:49 pm

Can a red faced cock breed with a yellow faced hen?

lia-w · Post by **lia-w** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:03 pm

If they are of the same species then yes...they are only color mutations right? What kind of finches are you looking at?

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:11 pm

Star finches... but I've heard that you can't breed the two different colors... just wondering if it was true

lia-w · Post by **lia-w** » Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:21 pm

Woah, moment of stupidity...just saw the title

http://www.efinch.com/species/star.htm

I see no reason why they should unless they are of the different subspecies:
Neochmia ruficauda clarescens
Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda

Then again I am just taking this from a biology point of view, not a bird breeder one.

Post by **Sally** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:25 am

I have 5 female babies from a pair of red-faced Stars--one of the babies turned out to be yellow-faced, so I guess one of the parents carried the gene for yellow. I had planned to match her with another red-faced Star male I have, and had not heard that you shouldn't do so. I will have to do some more research. I hope it is OK, as I don't have any other yellow Stars. I don't think it was Dad who carried the gene, as I had all red-faced babies from him in the past with another mate. So I assume Mom carries the gene. She is being paired with another red-faced male (I lost Dad this year), and I am curious to see if I get any more yellows.

EmilyHurd · Post by **EmilyHurd** » Sat Jul 28, 2007 12:28 am

Well I have had stars in the past... they were great birds, and did get a little pushy while trying to nest. I've also had owls in the past. I loved them too...