giving the mules another crack

[elferoz777]

Thought I would get back into breeding goldfinch x canary mules.

I tried a different method this year in paring the goldfinch directly with the canary hen straight away. Normally I would let a male canary put the hen down for round one then swap tbe cock burd with the goldfinch.

So far the hen has built a decent nest and the finch is sitting on the nest basket "supervising" and maling tje odd adjustment.

Was surprised as the goldfinch is wild caught but he seems to have calmed with the prospect of putting a hen down.

Hopefully I can post a picture of some eggs soon.

[TomDeGraaff]

Those mules are called mules coz they're sterile, right?
Tom

[elferoz777]

Yup.

I wouldn't breed any I thought could reproduce.

Im after good song birds and good colours

[TomDeGraaff]

Good luck, not my thing but I believe goldfinch mules are great singers. Does it matter which species is the cockbird?

[elferoz777]

Its best to have a canary hen and a goldfinch rooster. The wild goldfinch hens take a long time to settke wheras you can use an in season rooster to put a conditioned canary hen down a lot easier.

[finchbreeder]

They are great singers, bred one once when I couldn't source a Goldfinch hen. And had spare canary hens.
LML

[rabucazz]

I've never bred mules, but I'm very keen to do so. I managed to buy two cocks goldfinch in August, so I didn't have time to prepare them, despite of that I tried to keep them with canaries hens. The result wasn't good at all. One cock did nothing when the canary hen was down to a cock canary whistling to her from another cage. The other cock Goldfinch was even worse, I didn't see them fighting, but in one morning he had his foot bleeding, after a week that foot dropped off and he's an amputee now. Now, two weeks after that, he's behaving fine, but he's still indoor on a small "hospital cage".

A have a third canary hen that has two chicks coming out of the nest this week. She will be ready to mate again very soon. Do you think I should give it another go? I was thinking of put the male goldfinch (the one with two feet) with this hen and chicks until she's ready again. We are in October, and this goldfinch should be ready to breed now. Is it worth it?

[elferoz777]

Go for it. Now is the time.
Just look at the goldfinch beak. If its ivory white then he is ready to go.

Mine put two hens down but the eggs were clear. Still its a good sign.

[rabucazz]

Unfortunately I just had a round of clear eggs, even though the goldfinch was apparently ready. The pair wasn't fighting, but I reckon they weren't bond enough to mate. Anyway, I have separated them, as I want to have more canaries chick. I will try again next year with the right planing.

PS: How do you breed your mules? Cages of aviary?

[elferoz777]

Cages is the way to go.

What you are meant to do is breed a round of canaries. When the hen is feeding them you put the goldfinch in and remove the Canary cock. Keep in in eye and ear shot of the hen. She will be ready to go shortly after the chicks fledge and this is where mr goldfinch comes into play. Just make sure to remove each egg as the goldfinches like eating them.

I think I may have one fertile egg but (well it seemed that way before I went on holiday) I bred them differently this year. I condition them both then placed them together.