Blue/Pastel Gouldians?

[Strawblady2000]

Does anyone have any experience with these?

I ask because I have a chick of unknown color...

Usually my normal colored chicks come out green as soon as pin feathers pop...but this one sprouted grey feathers that are still grey. There is a slight tinge of color coming in, that is a bluish tint, but it is so faint, it hurts your eyes to see, lol. I know it is not a normal (green), as it would certainly be green already.

I've asked some gouldian breeders and looked for pictures to compare, but all I've come to find out is that blues are grey as well as pastels (blue/yellow split). Cant find any information on what dilutes look like at fledge (green/yellow split)...just that they are lighter compared to normals.

Without going too deeply into the genetics, if this chick IS indeed blue or pastel, it would certainly be an unanticipated surprise, as the dad is a normal and the hen is a yellow. Genetic forecasters predicted dilute males, but there is a possibility either or both parents are split to blue, which throws the forecsters out the window, lol. It will be interesting to see what this pair produces next season...as if they indeed are split to blue, there's a chance of a SILVER gouldian. Wooohooo.

But...still dont want to get too excited, lol...I may wake up to find a nice little green bird...whcih is fine by me if he's healthy!!!

So, if anyone has any experience with the blue mutations, pastels or dilutes, will you please describe the coloration of chicks upon fledging?

We Yankees ramble, huh?

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki,

I'm sorry you haven't had a reply yet on this one, I'm also sorry I can't give you a possitive answer,:roll: but from what you have mentioned below it is quite likely that it will turn out to be a Blue and from what you have told us in the past regarding Gouldian prices in the US then I'm sure this will be an extremely welcome surprise.;-)

Breeding certain mutations by accident beats buying them for what other breeders want for them.:D

By the way I love it when you ramble.:lol:

Paul.

[cooltom28]

http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/index.php?act=module&module=gallery&cmd=si&img=1706


baby blue in nest mine are currently on 4 eggs!:-P

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Tom and Nikki,

Tom,

Thanks for the photo in the link mate.;)

Nikki,

Is there an update on the Gouldian chick, have you confirmed it is a Blue yet?

Paul.;)

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Tom and Paul!

Tom, I tried to view your pictures...but I couldnt. Signed up for membership just to view...but I couldnt access for some reason.

How are your eggs doing?

Paul,

No update dangit!!! I sit in there DAILY trying to see if I can tell what color is coming in. My eyes play tricks on me.

*sigh*

So, I'm still waiting...ANXIOUSLY at that! At this point, all I do know is that it is not a green normal.

The quallity of the pics I posted isnt great...but if anyone has any feed back, lemme know!!!!

First pic is at 6 weeks.
2nd pic was at 5 weeks
3rd pic was at 3 weeks

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Nikki,

It's a shame you can't view the photo from Toms link, from the photo of the bird in your hand it looks the same colour as the bird from the link, but the in other two photos the bird doesn't look to be as grey, is this because of the picture quality?:?

I do hope the suspense of the wait doesn't cause any permanent damage to your eyesight.:lol:

Perhaps Tom could post a link from FF3 to Feathered Friends and hopefully you may get a positive identification from the members of FF3? How about it Tom?:D

Paul.;)

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Paul,

My pics didnt turn out very well. He's still pretty grey with a misting of color...just cant tell which color, lol!! My skills as a photographer are nil...My camera is a P.O.S. and it is also largely due to pilot error.

As petty as it may seem, the suspense is almost maddening!!!!

Almost 8 weeks old now...and still undecided. There is more of a tint now, though...almost like it was spray-misted with an aqua mist...but...the million dollar question is...is the aqua shade blue or is the aqua shade green? All of the breeders I've spoken with and pictures I've seen show more coloration in the chicks by this age...especially if it something other than blue or pastel. It is the grey that distorts the coloration, I guess. It appears to be getting darker overall.

LOL!!!

Doesnt look like any shade of green I;ve seen, so its hard to descirbe....and I've never seen pastel chicks in person.

So...the wait game continues.

He's either a....

Single factor green/single factor yellow (dilute coloration) with a purple breast
Single factot yellow/single factor blue (pastel coloration) with a purple breast
Single factor yellow/single factor blue (blue coloration) with a white breast

At least I can piece together some of his splits for when he gets older and gets a mate, LOL!

[cooltom28]

http://www.ff3.co.uk/cragsipb/forum/index.php?act=module&module=gallery&cmd=si&img=1706

try now i think it was to do with i took the link from the members gallery:grin:

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Tom,

Thanks for re-posting...but I couldnt access it. I signed in and tried looking in the members gallery too, sorting by membername...and I saw a handful of your pics (eclectus...nice! and lovies) but none of the gouldians.

blah.

:grin:

[cooltom28]

i no longer have those they were when i still got on with my biological father (supposedly!!) i added pics of my gouldians yesterday the chcikc werent mine as i have only bred one this year as i only started in march and have only just got my numbers uo t 8 pairs 9 soon lol i now have 17!!!! bloomin things lol :mrgreen: