PIED Cordon Blue

[Chris103]

Hello All! This is my first post on the forum! I Had this long detailed post explaining EVERYTHING but then like an idiot....deleted it. So, this is the much shorter version....even though its still kinda long.

Anyway, I am VERY excited about this new bird and Hope that some of you can help me answer a few questions so I can get this started! Here it goes:

Two days ago I saw this Cordon at a local pet store....they had no idea she was special so I quickly snatched her up! I could hardly contain myself at the store lol. I am aware that pied RCCB's exsist in Australia and possibly Asia but to my (and many others) knowledge they are not yet established here in the US. I figure that this mutation (like most pieds) will be recesive so I have all of my future breedings written out by using the LEAST amount of line/inbreeding as possible.....I want this to be a strong strain!!! My biggest problem right now is figuring out what subspecies she is so I know what male to get for her. I absolutely want to keep the subspecies pure if at all possible but due to her being a female and pied on top of that, it is very dificult to tell. My gut/observations lead me to believe she is a RCCB but I want to be as sure as possible. That's where you guys come in! I know several of you breed Cordons both RC's and BC's so I am hoping that you may know the subtle differences and be able to help ID her.

Here are a few pics of her.. ..PLEASE DO NOT STEAL THESE FROM ME. Just ask!~ Thanks!

Sorry for the kinda crummy pictures, my d70 quit on me but once its back in order expect some really nice ones!

I'd love to hear everyones comments and any tips that you may have. Also, if anyone local (Houston) has some good QUALITY Cordons she's looking for a man!

-Chris

[lovemyfinch]

I know nothing about cordons, but I would like to say that she is a real beauty, and wlelcome to the forum.

I am sure that Sally will be along shortly, she is having great success with hers this breeding season.

[Chris103]

I know nothing about cordons, but I would like to say that she is a real beauty, and wlelcome to the forum.

I am sure that Sally will be along shortly, she is having great success with hers this breeding season.

Well Hello! And thanks for the Kind welcome!

[L in Ontario]

Wow she sure looks beautiful. I wonder if she's a hybrid - hope not. How did you get her to spread her wings out in the first / top pic. She's really gorgeous! You were very fortunate to find her.

[cindy]

http://www.finchsociety.org/fsa/cordon.htm

http://www.finchsociety.org/cfa/aviaries/dh/dh.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzw6T2Gcj3s

http://www.cliftonfinchaviaries.org/tfc ... cordon.htm

Interesting...I found some articles and a video on pieds. Ithe articles are older and appear to be from out of the country. It looks like there two types of pied ~ the Set pied and the Grizzled pied (discussed in the first article).

I own Red cheeks, my biggest challenge is getting them to stop building, tearing down and rebuilding their nest.

[Chris103]

L in Ontario

Well I know she isnt a Hybrid between a Cordon and another species but she may be (unfortunately like many female Cordons) a "hybrid" between Subspecies. I got her to hold out her wings by holding her legs a certian way. I used to mist net wild birds for banding research in South TX and the Ornithologist there showed us how. But you have to be very careful or you could easily fracture a leg!

cindy

That is all of the exact info I could find on Cordon Mutations! I was shocked to find that was it! Im thinking mine is more of the grizzled pied but Im not sure.....it would be nice to have something to compare it to lol. What do you think she looks like?

Im just praying she'lll be an easy breeder for me, just fertile eggs would be nice as I have a pair of Zebras that will foster anything!

Im working on a good sized planted flight for her and her future mate so Im hoping that will encourage good breeding. Ill take pics when Im all finished with it.

[Pukasand]

Chris,
Welcome, welcome.
How very interesting. I think the Cordons are one of the most genteel finches. This bird is a real beauty. I'll be watching to see what the outcome of her breeding is.. wishing you very good luck.

[dfcauley]

She is a very pretty bird. But like Liz I also wondered about if is was possible she could be a hybrid.

If you got her from a pet store , how are sure that she isn't?
I am just curious.

I didn't know pied excited either. But..... it appears if so you have hit the jackpot!!!

[cindy]

Chris, all the articles come from overseas. I can't find much from here in the states. May I suggest talking with the pet shop you purchased her from and finding out who the breeder was. Perhaps the breeder can tell you her background, if she was born like this (set pied) or it happened as she matured (grizzled). The breeder may be able to tell you what to pair it with. Ask if her mother was kept in a mixed aviary or she was paired with another CB, that would 100% rule out a mixed species (hybrid).

[Chris103]

Believe it or not, she came from a PETSMART! I used to work there and I know who their supplier is. Petsmart does NO breeding in the store and the supplier mass breeds finches in large aviaries. I was always told they kept the species separate at the breeding facility. They come in on a truck and the guys that bring them in have NO clue about the history of them. I will say that they generally bring in younger birds though.

I think if any you saw the bird in person you would know that she wasnt a hybrid. Nothing about her other than the pied is different from a regular Cordon. Ill try and take some more pictures so that you guys can see her perched. I am very curious though, what do you all think she is mixed with? Ive never seen any cordon hybrids.

[nixity]

That is an incredible looking mutation, whatever it may be.
The patterning almost reminds me of canaries with the saddle color pattern on their backs.
But I agree, I don't think hybrid because usually in a hybrid you see characteristics of the other species (like Zeb/Soc babies usually have the Zeb beak but the society scalloping, etc.).. she just looks pied to me.

I'm dying to see what will be the result of a pairing to see how this is inherited.. Aren't most pieds dominant? (I know pairing a pied fawn and self fawn soc gave me pied babies..)

[Chris103]

Thanks! Im hoping SOOO badly that this will turn out to be a Dominant mutation but only time will tell! Pied can be recesive or dominant depending on the species and type of pied...like in budgies for example there are dominant and reccesive pieds. I've never been so anxious for Finches to breed thats for sure!

[CandoAviary]

What a unique looking CB...never have seen one in the states...just pics on foreign sites.

As far as the hybrid that some are talking about, I think what they are referring to is the cross between a blue capped Cb with a red cheeked CB or even a blue breasted CB. A hybrid among the subspecies. Though it is hard to tell of any of the pedigree when you buy at bird fairs/stores. Even reputable breeders sometimes get dooped and breed what they think are pure stains only to have what they thought were BCCB hatch out RCCB chicks
So I wouldn't worry too much about that. Is she considered a RCCB.
She is truly special I know you will enjoy having her in your aviary.

[cindy]

Chris, I have been to a few different PetSmarts in my area. One store had beautiful Cordon bleus, one of the employeestold me the same thing you just said about where they come from. The birds are bred by Hartz, I think she said it is the parent company for PetSmart (not the seed and bird product company).

Thank you for letting us know where she came from, if she had come from a private pet store and the owner took birds in from individual breeders than it might have been a way to trace her beginings.

Now you need to find out what to pair her with to breed more pieds. I wonder if there are others like her maybe at another PetSmart near you!

[Chris103]

Ohh trust me I have searched every Petsmart within 60 miles of here With no luck! I wouldnt usually buy Cordons from Petsmart because of the price but there is a pair of Red Cheeks Ill be buying when that tax return finally comes in. They are Breeding and producing fertile eggs in the store while hundreds of people pass buy them. They sit TIGHT on their eggs but Petsmart has a no breeding policy so they never let the eggs hatch. But if you make nice with the employees they will usually just give you the eggs! SO, as soon as my zebras get back in gear ill slip some cordon eggs under them and hopefully get a few free cordons!