Is this a hen or a cock bird?
Posted: 19 May 2011, 23:45
Ok here is my situation. I have a "pair" of european goldfinches. Alot of you will probably already no about me struggling to pair them up and disputing the sex of the apparent cock bird.
Anyway the "cock bird" is still not in condition as it has black on the tip of its beak. And the hen is very aggressive towards it esp around her nest site.
I aslo have a fife canary cock who is just finnishing moulting so he really isnt ready for breeding yet. Anyway i put him in with my goldfinch hen just to see what would happen.
NO AGGRESSION WHATSOEVER! I put some nesting material in the nest and on the floor and the hen is busily picking it up flying around with it and shredding it. The canary cock is eating bits of apple and picking up the odd bit of nesting material also.
They are watching each other closely with a rather intreeged expression. The hen is allowing him near her nest and letting him pick at the nesting material.
The goldfinch "cock" looks like a cock bird sings a little but not very well but other then that is behaving more like a hen. Showing no interest in the hen at all and has shown her nothing but aggresiion in return.
Im wondering if my hen is tolerating my canary more becuase its a cock bird. And she is aggressive towards the other goldfinch because its another hen?
Both cock birds are not in condition but she tolerates my canary more then one of her own?
What are your opinions?
Anyway the "cock bird" is still not in condition as it has black on the tip of its beak. And the hen is very aggressive towards it esp around her nest site.
I aslo have a fife canary cock who is just finnishing moulting so he really isnt ready for breeding yet. Anyway i put him in with my goldfinch hen just to see what would happen.
NO AGGRESSION WHATSOEVER! I put some nesting material in the nest and on the floor and the hen is busily picking it up flying around with it and shredding it. The canary cock is eating bits of apple and picking up the odd bit of nesting material also.
They are watching each other closely with a rather intreeged expression. The hen is allowing him near her nest and letting him pick at the nesting material.
The goldfinch "cock" looks like a cock bird sings a little but not very well but other then that is behaving more like a hen. Showing no interest in the hen at all and has shown her nothing but aggresiion in return.
Im wondering if my hen is tolerating my canary more becuase its a cock bird. And she is aggressive towards the other goldfinch because its another hen?
Both cock birds are not in condition but she tolerates my canary more then one of her own?
What are your opinions?