Red Hooded Siskins: the reason we have red factor canaries

[findi]

Meet the Red Hooded Siskin, "parent" species of Red Factor Canaries: http://bitly.com/S34W64

[finches247]

Interseting Article
Thanks for sharing

[findi]

Thanks for the kind words., much appreciated! \

[SamDavis]

Thanks Frank - another great read.
Frank, I'm not sure if you're aware, but Red Siskins are very popular (and quite numerous) here in Australia. I purchased my first ever trio last year and had some success. Unfortunately it turned out I bred far more cocks than hens (which is too often the case). I thought I'd have trouble selling them but instead was swamped with calls from canary breeders.

[findi]

Much appreciated Sam. Thanks for the info....always nice to hear about how things are done in Australia, Best, Frank

[Diane]

I know the colour of the Siskin is important to Canary breeders to keep the Red Factor, but after looking at pictures of Siskins when compared to show Canaries it seems to me the head and body styles are very different.
After introducing a Siskin to the flock to get better colour is it likely that a good coloured bird would also have the head and body style of the accepted Canary style within the first breeding season?

[findi]

That's a very good point, Diane; unfortunately, no hard and fast rules (even where color is concerned, many variables). Characteristics such as head/body shape and so on would likely take longer to influence, but I haven't seen anything written on this specifically.

I hope all is well, Frank