Gouldian hen beak color

[a_gouldian]

We recently received a black Gouldian hen that is 7 months old. I am not sure looking at the documentation the breeder sent what color the parents were. She has finished her juv molt, is BPG, but her beak is white except for a yellowish tip. Not sure what the yellowish tip means as far as genetics.

[lovezebs]

a_gouldian

If I remember right, it means Black head/gen. Yellow head...

[a_gouldian]

a_gouldian

If I remember right, it means Black head/gen. Yellow head...

Sorry for my ignorance What does the gen. Yellow head mean? One of it's parents had a yellow head?

[a_gouldian]

I found this -

Yellow head (YH) is an autosomal recessive trait, but also requires at least one red head gene to be present in order to be expressed. If two yellow head genes are present on a bird that has no red head genes (and instead has black head genes), the bird will have a black head with a yellow tipped beak (YTB). This occurs because the bird is genetically a yellow headed bird, but it cannot express the yellow color because the yellow gene depends on the red head gene for expression, and the red head gene is not there. Both cocks and hens can be "split" for yellow head.

If I breed this bird to a RPG male what are the possibilities for the off-spring as far as head color goes?

[debbie276]

Genetically she is a Yellow Head but can not express the color yellow because of the reason stated above. So she is a BH(YTB).PB.Green (BlackHead(YellowTippedBeak).PurpleBreast.Green)

[a_gouldian]

Thanks Debbie and Elana. I guess what this means for breeding is that the yellow will not come into play as far as head color of offspring.

[Babs _Owner]

a_gouldian

Here is my BH/YTB female "Brat", with her mate "Ricco" (although you cant see it, he is a RH).

Yes indeed the yellow in the female's beak plays a part. This pair gives me YH & RH males & YH, RH & BH females.

I cant get BH males from this pair. But I can get all 3 head colors in the hens.

[a_gouldian]

Thanks Babs. It sounds like we could have a mix of head colors when she is bred to one of our red-heads.

[debbie276]

If she is bred to a RH male you will get (/=split to)
RH/BH/YH males and RH/YH females

If she is bred to a BH male you will get
BH/YH males and females

If she is bred to a RH/YH male you will get
YH/BH and RH/BH/YH males
YH and RH/YH females

If she is bred to a BH/YH male you will get
BH(YTB) and BH/YH males and females

If she is bred with a YH male you will get
YH/BH males andYH females


@Babs
Your male must also be split to both, BH and YH to get any BH and/or YH chicks.

[a_gouldian]

Thanks Debbie. This info. is very helpful.

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

Indeed Ricco seems to have all 3 head color splits. And he's pb/wb as well. Quite the diversity of color combos from these two.

Only BH hens so far.

[wilkifam]

I guess what this means for breeding is that the yellow will not come into play as far as head color of offspring.

Yes it will. Especially if you breed to a YH male. You will get all YH Babies.

[a_gouldian]

<br abp="1400">I guess what this means for breeding is that the yellow will not come into play as far as head color of offspring.<br abp="1401">

<br abp="1402"><br abp="1403">Yes it will. Especially if you breed to a YH male. You will get all YH Babies.

That's good because my next "want to get" bird is a yellow-headed male but that may have to wait until later this year or next year.

[Babs _Owner]

debbie276

Sorry I had to clarify. The only BHs I've had from this pair have been hens. Meaning I havent had any BH males

[debbie276]

Babs
You could get males, it's all in the odds lol