Aussie Finch Forum

Thanks to a visit from a friendly neighbourhood Antechinus through a whipper snipper hole I have lost every hen for my dark cream and silver zebs. What can I pair to the remaining males to get back on track quickly. I have pure greys at my disposal but can acquire others if needed.

Danny

Nobody ????

I'm not sure of the mode of inheritence for silvers & dark creams, but if they are either sex-linked recessive or dominant modes I'd definitely use this tragedy as an ideal opportunity to outcross your remaining males with normal grey hens of good size & type. If sex-linked recessive, this should produce mutation colour young hens & split young cocks which is a sound basis for re-establishment of your flock. If dominant, you'll get colour in some young as well (& no splits).

I'm glad Antechinus are as small as they are otherwise I'd be far more nervous about living in the bush. Gram for gram one of the most voracious predators in Australia who will completely dismember a finch (or an aviary full of them) at the blink of an eye given half an opportunity.

What are their modes of inheritence?

Silver is dominant, best mating for silvers is, silver with grey, dark cream is a colour I don't keep but I think it could be sex-linked so, dark cream with fawn would be the go.

Thanks. I can't find anywhere that says what dark cream's inheritance is.

Danny

Hi Danny,

Does dark cream also go by another name which you could search (especially overseas)?

Hi Danny,
Dark Cream is both dominant and sex- linked, dark cream cock x fawn hen or the other way round should give you 25% each of dark cream cocks,fawn hens,dark cream hens and fawn cocks.

Maurie.

Just to assist other forum members who are wondering what an Antechinus is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antechinus

i had never heard of them and don't ever want to come across one.

"Antechinuses are small, carnivorous, shrew-like animals"
I was scratching my head trying to remember what they were. But it was slowly coming back to me from the dim dark recesses of memory. Regular mice are a big enough pests, without these guys to add to the problem.
LML