Not sure aout the Grenadiers, but Yellow Maddies pop up from time to time. Breed two myself but was unable to get a fertile egg from either of them. Spoke to a couple of breeders who had Maddies, and both seem to think that the yellows were a genetic fault, and had never breed from yellow bird either.
Mutations: The only mutation that I am aware of is a yellow variation. Generally yellow feathers replace the red/orange areas of the male. Most of these birds are a dull yellow and are very distinctive. I swapped a 'hen' with another breeder only for him to tell me that his 'hen' was a very small yellow male! He selected this bird from several others due to its size and it was, apparently, vivid lemon rather than the usual drabber yellow. Unfortunately he lost it before I could see it in colour. We have been told many 'tall tales and (maybe) truths' about the derivations of this mutation but we have never seen a yellow hen to date. Several experiments with this mutation suggest that the males may be infertile so, our advice, is to keep them to look at but don't waste your time trying to breed from them. Maybe someone can prove us wrong - good luck!!
thanks guys for the response.
Yes they are my cutthroats only have 2 pr. Nesting at the moment. Layed previously 2 or 3 eggs per nest with only 1 chick hatching. I am going to introduce new stock into the group to hopefully increase clutch size this spring.
I have read Marcus article and my birds differ as they are fertile, as they have raised a number of chicks over the last 3 years. Unfortunately the drought has effected their nest numbers, they need rain to stimulate breeding. Also I have lost a number of birds, normally the young fledglings, due to predation from white plummed honey eaters. This year I have placed black orchard netting across the aviary to combat against the honey eaters. Cross fingers this years rain might enhance breeding results.
Life in Port Macquarie is the ultimate Aussie sea change lifestyle.
There was also a guy breeding them true to colour in Canberra a few years ago.
His were a real solid yellow not a washed out normal red/orange
From memory I think Waggas birds may have originated from that stock.
Yes these are the ex canberra birds. Any rain around here is great, come on October. Thats when the cocks go into action. At the moment they just dull non active drab birds. I cant wait.
Life in Port Macquarie is the ultimate Aussie sea change lifestyle.
wagga wrote:thanks guys for the response.
.................... they need rain to stimulate breeding. ............ Cross fingers this years rain might enhance breeding results.
Keep 'em going wagga, plenty of rain up here in Port Macquarie for them ;)