Pairing up Gouldians

[iaos]

I have the option of either pairing up a first year hen with a first year cock bird or a first year hen with an unproven second year cock bird. Is there any benefit in one pairing over another?

Cheers
Ian

[Mr Tino]

Hi iaos,I pair up y/h p/b d/f yellow which is second year cock to first year hen which y/h w/b blue, they raised 25 chick this I find this mating work quite well for me.

cheer from tony (tino)

[Diane]

I have read of a theory that promotes putting an older bird with a first timer, doesn't seem to matter which way as long as one of the pair has had some experience in raising chicks.
From tino's comment it looks like it works in practice too.

[iaos]

Thanks for the replies Tino and Di. Unfortunately he is unproven, but by the sounds of things it should be okay.
Cheers

[Freddy Finchman]

Hi all,
I bought this uncoloured RH Gould on the 4th august, he was about 2months old, As soon as he coloured up , he shacked up with a 2 year old hen.
He would be no more than 8 months old, but he seems a Natural, their egg's started hatching yesterday, He shares all the normal duties, like he has done it all his life, maybe i'm lucky ?? Ive tried " Pairing other birds up doesn't allways work, If there's no attraction then thats it , No babies !!
Cheers Freddy

[Diane]

You might be right Freddy, with the research saying hens can control the sex of the offspring depending on the head colour of the cock bird I guess its not beyond the realms of possibility that a hen could control whether the eggs hatch out if she is paired with a cock bird she isnt attracted to.