ID help, hen or cock?

[ac12]

I paired this bird up with my male gouldian. But he did not pay any attention to it. Then today I heard it sing the first 1 or 2 seconds of a song, but no sound after, just saw its throat moving like it was singing. In the 1-1/2 months I had it, I had never seen it do that before. I thought I bought a hen, now I'm thinking it is a cock.

The face mask is not SOLID red, so I figured it was a hen.

[L in Ontario]

I'm going to say this is a male:

-It's beak is not flushed with colour (only the tip)
-The mask seems a little bigger than what I think I'd see on a hen
-The belly colour seems pretty vivid
-Your description of the throat moving as if it were singing.

Here's a pic of my RH,WB,YB hen-

[ac12]

I see what you mean about the beak color.
I was concentrating on the face mask to determine sex. And the slightly mottled color vs. a nice solid red, made me think it was a hen.

no wonder my cock did not pay attention to it

[L in Ontario]

I'm not 100% sure about your finch. I'm wondering what others say and/or what happens when you put this one with another hen?

[dfcauley]

I see what you mean about the beak color.
I was concentrating on the face mask to determine sex. And the slightly mottled color vs. a nice solid red, made me think it was a hen.

no wonder my cock did not pay attention to it

That's too funny...... he wants a girl!!!

[Domenic]

At first glance I thought it was a hen too, but after looking at it's beak it is looking more like a cock to me. I just don't understand why it's head is so dull.

[ac12]

Liz
I only have 4 hens;
- 1 that has had her limit of eggs. I have in a separate cage to trigger her to molt. Don't want to use her, cuz I don't want to get her excited to breed again.
- 3 are juveniles (Aug 17 & 18, 2009). I will probably use one of these. I could put the divider in the cage and put one of the juvenile hens on the other side to see what happens.

BTW what is the recommended minimum age to begin breeding a gouldian? I am pretty sure it is older than for a zebra, and I don't want to risk any of them.

[L in Ontario]

"Recommended" age to let Gouldians start breeding - here's the various opinions I've heard:

- Just under 12 months to start 'practising'
- Minimum 12 months of age
- Two years of age to get a 'good' parent

If that was my bird - I would put it in a cage with a juvie hen and a divider between them. So I could see the reaction of the questionable one towards a hen. Not to let them breed if the juvie is too young.

[nixity]

I'm going with boy..

Sorry

[nixity]

- 3 are juveniles (Aug 17 & 18, 2009). I will probably use one of these. I could put the divider in the cage and put one of the juvenile hens on the other side to see what happens.

I'm guessing these are the three from the eggs you got from me, yes?
I would wait until they are at least 8 months old.
I think waiting 2 years to breed is insane
Sorry, I realize that's a strong opinion but I just don't understand it.. if they breed at 8-10 months old in the wild where is the logic to waiting 2 years, when the first 3-4 years is PRIME breeding age

I guess this opinion stems from me not believing that parenting is learned.. I consider it intrinsic since I had an instance last year of one of my older hand feds feeding a younger hand fed.. and these were uncolored unweaned juveniles and I've seen videos of others' birds doing the same.

[ac12]

DRAT
So I bought a male rather than a hen. I just have to change my breeding plans. Although, now that I know my hen is a PB/WB, it makes the planning easier. Now I know I have a 50/50 chance for WB chicks with him.

Yes Tiffany the 3 juvs are from your eggs.
visually RH-WB-GB, RH-PB-GB, and BH-PB-GB.
8 months it is. Hey 8 months is April...next month
I can wait another month.
I have my OH-PB-GB male (don't know if he is /blue) that I plan to pair up w the visually BH-PB-GB hen. I think you said that one might be /OH, so it would be the best match to pair up. He is raring to go right now. He keeps fluttering around the cage looking towards the hen cage. I think he picked one of them out already, just don't know which hen he picked. I hope it is the BH hen.

[carmena]

I go with a male. I have seen that head mottled like that when they come into their colors for the first time. The next molt I bet it will be solid. He is just young.
handsome thing

[MLaRue]

I usually see the head like this in my males while they are molting and or are older birds. Is the bird close banded?

[ac12]

It is closed banded 2007