Yellow back Gouldians

[cranberry]

Hi folks,

I picked up a couple of Yellow back, white breast cock birds on the weekend. Is this mutation autosomal recessive or sex linked? What's the best way to produce young of the same colour? If recessive, I was thinking to breed these 2 with normal white breasted hens and then breed the offspring together.

[Matt]

There are both sex-linked co-dominant (euro yellow) and autosomal recessive (aus yellow).

For the sex-linked version you can have both single and double factors which are visually yellow. You can put them with normal hens and you will get yellow hens and split cocks. If the cock is single factor, I would put him with a yellow hen. I don't put double factor cocks with yellow hens.

For australian yellows, if you mate them to normal hens you will end up with all splits. Better to mate with a split hens. Australian yellows all have white breasts which has nothing to do with the white breast mutation, so if you mate an australian yellow to a white breasted normal hen, all offspring will be normal purple breasted green backs split to both australian yellow and white breast.

[Diane]

I tried for ages to get some of those, never saw any anywhere, lots of "someone is bringing some in next week" type thing. Where did you end up getting them from?

[Diane]

I don't put double factor cocks with yellow hens.

Is there a reason for your thoughts on that Matt?

Bear in mind its before 9am on a Monday morning brain not working yet Coffee still has to sink in. ;)

[Simba]

A lot of the European Yellow backs I have seen for sale have the odd green/brown feather or two on their back or in their tail especially the hens and single factor cocks, I think this means they are carrying both European & Australian yellow back any thoughts on this ?

[Matt]

I have paired double factor cocks a few times in the past with yellow hens and haven't managed to rear many good quality chicks. The clutch sizes and fertility weren't much good. This is only my experience with a few pairings.

As far as the foul feathers in euro yellows, I tend to disagree. I have a couple of double factor euro yellows combined with the aus yellow and they are the cleanest a yellow can get.

[Finchy]

Here's a good guide: http://finchstuff.com/GouldianFinchColourMutations.aspx