Mixing Gouldian head colours?

29 Jun 2014, 17:34

I've heard from a lot of breeders that its fine to mix head colours...and then others say its a terrible idea, just wondering what the general consensus is?

29 Jun 2014, 17:57

I've read the red headed Gouldians are more assertive and dominant, and should only be mixed sparingly.

Given that there's a mix of head colours in the wild, I don't see why emulating this in an aviary setting would be such a bad idea.

29 Jun 2014, 18:11

ShaneGowland wrote:I've read the red headed Gouldians are more assertive and dominant, and should only be mixed sparingly.

Given that there's a mix of head colours in the wild, I don't see why emulating this in an aviary setting would be such a bad idea.

Makes sense, I guess in then end it would come down to the breeder. Feel like this is one of those topics where there is no right or wrong answer, maybe?

29 Jun 2014, 20:09

If it comes down to knowing what you are breeding.

E.g I had a pair of what I thought were pure blacked gouldian yet some of the young have red heads. .. I know the pair is proven and there were no red cocks in or near the breeder cage.

Its one of the problems when mixing body and head colour. You can never fully control or guarantee the outcome 100%.

Depends what your breeding goals are.

29 Jun 2014, 20:19

Painted4 wrote:This is one of those topics where there is no right or wrong answer, maybe?

Yes, unless you're trying to breed for one specific head colour, it's really just personal preference. I only keep reds, but if you want to mix and match - more power to you.

29 Jun 2014, 20:27

Mm, Personally i'm not going to mix the head colours, like elferoz777 said, i'd rather know what i'm breeding (or as close as I can get, dependant on if the parents are unknown splits)

alvin · 29 Jun 2014, 22:13

Painted4 wrote:Mm, Personally i'm not going to mix the head colours, like elferoz777 said, i'd rather know what i'm breeding (or as close as I can get, dependant on if the parents are unknown splits)

I mix head colors, depends on the birds choice who they want to pair up with, thus better breeding results. I also getter better looking black heads from the mixed head colors than from 2 black heads.All my red headed cocks are all Red split blacks,my red headed hens are a shinny deep red colour, Pairing RD/BH x BH hen, offspring red split black and black headed cocks, Red headed hens. I have a red headed ,white breasted cock paired to red headed hen, and 95% of the offspring are Black heads

30 Jun 2014, 11:25

Mostly I keep my head colours in seperate avairys. But occassionally, depending on what hen stock I have, will put a different coloured hen in. e.g. I currently have a BH hen in the OH avairy. (she turned up from a pairing of RH x OH that I had thought pure) I do this because I find I get much brighter and cleaner heads this way.
LML

30 Jun 2014, 21:15

Hi all, this is an area I'm still getting my head around. For me, I just don't have enough aviaries to separate head colours, so trying to better understanding the head colour combinations is all I hope for.

01 Jul 2014, 09:27

I wouldn't get too fixated on keeping head colours separated. They mix in nature. The head colours are in balance in the wild. If you are breeding for particular colours, then it is more important.

If you are breeding for sheer enjoyment, then breed them mixed, imo. Unless you buy from a reputable breeder who breeds for colour, then you don't always know what your birds are carrying (headwise) anyway. If you want to keep colours separate, then use stock from a reputable breeder.

Just enjoy them!

NB: Body colour is different, be careful of splits here because you may get unnatural colours you don't want.

Tom