Blue Caps?

[Sally]

Jerry, since the two hens were together in one cage, you have to wonder if the healthy-looking one could have picked up something from the other hen. Of course, there is always the chance that the picture was taken just as the one hen fluffed herself up as part of a normal routine, and she isn't sick at all. That is something you would have to evaluate. And if the seller advertised them as two BCCBs, and especially if he claimed they are a m/f pair, then you have to consider that the seller either doesn't know what he is doing or doesn't care--not the best situation for me.

[BigBear0007]

Jerry, since the two hens were together in one cage, you have to wonder if the healthy-looking one could have picked up something from the other hen. Of course, there is always the chance that the picture was taken just as the one hen fluffed herself up as part of a normal routine, and she isn't sick at all. That is something you would have to evaluate. And if the seller advertised them as two BCCBs, and especially if he claimed they are a m/f pair, then you have to consider that the seller either doesn't know what he is doing or doesn't care--not the best situation for me.

Your probably correct!
I will pass and keep looking!

[tt101]

[quote="monotwine"]Mmm its always difficult to tell the difference in the hens. Usually I find a RCCB has a darker beak (well thats how I see the difference myself).
Hybrids I believe you can tell by seeing their more upright stance.
The BCCB male is very distinct from all the other CB's. You can see how totally blue his head is.

BCCB cock green.jpg

wow this bird is absolutely stunning monique, i have only ever seen birds this beautiful on the enternet. i am very very impressed and this bird look gorgouse.

now in terms of whether the op's birds are BCCB or not it would be good to know the age because they could just be BBCB and also like everyone else has said i would stay away from that female, her eyes are really squinted and she does not appear to be in good feather condition

[managermania]

Poor thing...what if she just squinted for this one picture. Now she's out of a good home and pobably kicking herself for that one squinty picture.
I know I have blinked in a pic or two.

[tt101]

Poor thing...what if she just squinted for this one picture. Now she's out of a good home and pobably kicking herself for that one squinty picture.
I know I have blinked in a pic or two.

lol you could be right, but i would wonder why the seller would take a picture while she looked all puffed up and squinty and not just take another picture when she was back to normal and post it. it seems to me like this owner does not really care because he falsely advertized his birds.

[dan78]

I myself have some difficulty trying to distinguish the three types of cordons especially when their young or you have hens only, but after seeing beak colour difference it might make it easier for me in the future. What I feel sorry for is that hen doesn't look quite right but unfortunately if she isn't then she will probably won't make it due to alot of pet stores dint really take much notice in the health if their birds. I have on many occasions have brought sick birds due to worrying that they won't get the care needed from the stores and I've picked them up very cheap at some stores, once they are medicated and looked after they have become some very nice breeding stock but not all make it either I have about a 60% success rate and after all medications and diet they probably have cost more but can we afford to lose any finches as these particular birds are what keep their race going in our hobby and everyone lost unnecessarily will hinder future breeding and may start to make certain speices harder to find. Sorry about my babbling

[monotwine]

Procfamily, I previously posted two photos that I think show the different in an RCCB vs. a BCCB hen. I am posting them again. You can see that the BCCB hen has a bright fuschia beak. The RCCB hen's beak is never that bright but IS more pinky tan. Also, a BCCB hen has denser feathers on the head creating a higher and rounder crest when the feathers are raised.

It's very easy to tell them apart if you have both species but not so easy if you dont. I hope this helps.

(Just a P.S)> Monique, your photos (as usual) are spectacular. I am still using the photo you sent me of your upside down PF as wallpaper on my laptop.

Wow Anna I've never seen such a bright fuschia coloured beak. Really spectacular. Here the BCCBs all look like the one I posted and the hens of the RCCB get a rather dark blueish tinge to their beaks. They may mature out to more pink. I accidentally bought a Red cheeked hen when I started and she wanted nothing to do with my males. When I took her back to swop out I could immediately see why. They were the wrong hens. However looking at the two side by side is far easier than trying from pictures, I agree. Looking at my hen and your RCCB they could be the same species.

Bit offtopic: Anna Glad you enjoying the pic still. I must try get a better one for you. My mister PF is still doing is upsidedown antics finding insects to feed his youngsters.

TT101 thanks for the compliment. He was a special boy to me. His name was Charmer (cause he so loved the ladies and they him), but I lost him this year. He was 4 or so years old. I think their colour gets more spectacular with age.

[tt101]

TT101 thanks for the compliment. He was a special boy to me. His name was Charmer (cause he so loved the ladies and they him), but I lost him this year. He was 4 or so years old. I think their colour gets more spectacular with age.

your very welcome and i am so sorry to hear that, he was the most spectacular cordon bleu i have ever seen. i literally dream of getting one like him. was he always so beautiful or did it take some conditioning?

[annague]

Awwww... Monique... I love the PF's-- Mister PF sounds like a hoot and you can see his personality in his photo!

Surely there is not that big of a difference between beak colors of your birds in Africa and the ones we have here in America (since ours came from there!... ) Maybe it is the artificial light making the difference in the beak color of the RCCB and the BCCB hen so apparent?

I agree, Charmer is exceptionally handsome! IMO all the CB's are handsome birds but the BCCB's are probably the most spectacular. I'm sorry you lost him -- was he one of the ones feeding the PF babies? (I love that story!)

[monotwine]

was he always so beautiful or did it take some conditioning?

He was a naturally handsome lad to start off with. He always displayed a good character and colour. My other male BCCB was pretty too, but his blue was just never as intense as Charmers. He did get plenty natural sunlight and a good varied diet. Everything helps.

Anna: If I can get my camera on my PF this weekend I'll post some new pics in a new thread. He is looking good and getting more pied than before.
And yes this was the BCCB pair that fed the PF's.

[tt101]

was he always so beautiful or did it take some conditioning?

He was a naturally handsome lad to start off with. He always displayed a good character and colour. My other male BCCB was pretty too, but his blue was just never as intense as Charmers. He did get plenty natural sunlight and a good varied diet. Everything helps.

Anna: If I can get my camera on my PF this weekend I'll post some new pics in a new thread. He is looking good and getting more pied than before.
And yes this was the BCCB pair that fed the PF's.

oh ok i see , so if i go out looking for a cordon bleu like yours i should get a younger bird that already shows good intense color and that should get more intense as he grows as opposed to buying a regular looking one and trying to condition it to that color. has he given you any beautiful babies?

[monotwine]

Alas no. He was a great dad and produced young a few times, but through sheer bad luck I always lost the clutch to some freak event. Like the nest being blown apart by a freak unseasonal storm etc. Pity as he was a fantastic parent and did not mind me checking their nest etc.

I hope you get you charming blue someday.

[tt101]

Alas no. He was a great dad and produced young a few times, but through sheer bad luck I always lost the clutch to some freak event. Like the nest being blown apart by a freak unseasonal storm etc. Pity as he was a fantastic parent and did not mind me checking their nest etc.

I hope you get you charming blue someday.

aww thats too bad honestly, he would have produced gorgeous babies. i guess it was never meant to be but at least you got to have him for a few years.
thanks Monique i really hope i can find my charming blue one day too