Aussie Finch Forum

With weak recessive mutations which require strengthening, existing splits bred from blue & split are of absolutely no strengthening value at all. Proper outcrossing using a really good quality normal mated to a blue is the only way to get decent splits to help add to the genetic vigour of a blue collection. Best to only regard a split as a split if it has a good normal parent.

tigerfan, I have got back into gouldians this season after an 8 year abscence. 10+ years ago blues were worth $500 each..today $300. By comparison the YB is worth about a 1/4 of what it was worth 10 years ago...these prices are driven by availability. Whilst the blues have improved they have done so at a much slower rate than YB and WB.

Hopefully as breeders outcross their blues to strong normals...pair up strong splits x splits or blues this mutation will continue to improve. Like Bgould I agree you need to purchase parent raised birds...and preferable from your local area. Personally I wouldn't be looking at buying any gouldians until later in the year when they have moulted out....cheers, Paul

thankyou so much paul thats the exact answer i was looking for. and i agree by using strong normals will achieve the desiared result.
it would just be nice to see a strong healthy blue mutation.

Hi Tigerfan the first step is to breed your own line of strong healthy normals and then pair these to the best blues you can buy to hopefully produce strong healthy splits and then eventually strong blues.
By using your own bred normals you will know the history, health and breeding preformance of those birds which will form the basis of your line of strong blues.