| Subject: |
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Creating Show Quality Gouldians |
| Name: |
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ron cloutier |
| Date Posted: |
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Jul 28, 05 - 11:35 AM |
| Email: |
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ron@ladygouldianfinch-ca.com |
| Website: |
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http://lady gouldian finch canada |
| Message: |
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In gouldians to pair for show stock ( breeders that will produce show quality chicks) I tend to look for
a pair that is:
-not too snaky or fat with a good proportioned body.
-the birds with short roman beaks
-round heads
-excellent plumage
-not an overly nervous bird ( nervous parents create nervous chicks, nervousness
is proven to be a partially learned behaviour and partially genetic.
If one is lacking it should be in the opposing parent to balance things out and
increase the chances of all criteria being met in the future.
If I have more knowledge on the pair ( if they are chicks from some of my stock
birds I can note earlier criterium:
-the time it takes a chick to wean and eat on it's own.
More robust healthier chicks start eating on their own earlier then their
siblings.
-the amount of weight it gains daily ( A chick from weaning should be at 22
grams prior to weaning.
Once weaned the bird can lose ½ gram or more a day so it important for it to
grow and gain weight rapidly as a chick.
-the chicks in several clutches or a single clutch of type ( ie gb bh pb) are
compared for the following
-beak length and width.
A short wide beak is preferable.
-head shape ( head should be round and not too flat
-body shape to snaky or rotund ( zebra like) is not good.
You want the bird to be in good proportion all over.
A heavy bird will look pear shaped ( chest bigger then rest of body).
The chick should look bullet shaped if best
-stance how the chick sits is important lazy birds tend be hard to train to sit
at the ideal 45 degree angle.
-amount of time it takes to go from the beginning of adult moult to the end of
it. Robust birds moult faster and lose less body reserves.
Tail length and shape
-tails that point up or down are not desired
-tails that are not in proportion...one tail longer then the other are not desirable. YOU can remove the tail and a new one should grow back in 4-8 weeks.
-it's nerves ( overly nervous chicks are those that flit when you approach are not the easiest to train to sit still during judging.
These ae the traits you look for in birds desired to breed good contending show off spring.
Also the chick criteria is what you look for in choosing your contending gouldians.
It is best to start out with good birds and build your flock from there. So in the end all your birds are show quality birds.
(')<-Keep Birding
Ron  |
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