|
Female Gouldian Finches "decide" Sex of Chicks |
|
 Female Gouldian finches "decide" to have more male chicks if they are less compatible with their mate. They prefer to mate with males who have the same coloured head, as this signifies a better genetic match. Chicks that have been produced from a mismatched mating - particularly the females - are weaker and more likely to die very early.
A report in the journal Science says that the birds compensate for this by having more male chicks in their brood. Colourful Gouldian finches can judge if a mate is genetically compatible just by looking at its head, and this new study has found that, when the female finches mate with a male that has a different head colour, they select the sex of their offspring - giving their chicks a better chance of survival. Â In birds, the sex of an egg is already determined before it is fertilised by the male. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Toco Toucans - Rio and Ruben |
by Louise Prowse | |
| | I acquired Ruben 2 years ago from a vet friend of mine. He had a female but she was tame and would not accept Ruben at any price.
|
Read more...
|
|
|
The Omei Shan Liocichla (Liocichla omeiensis) |
Nigel Hewston Introduction This paper briefly describes the bird, its habitat, range, status and husbandry, and summarises research and conservation to date originated through interest in this species in captivity. |
|
Read more...
|
|
Neophemas - Beginners Delight |
|
This small group of 7 species have no sub-species, and are amongst the most popularly kept and bred of all of the Australian Parakeets. They have very few vices that can cause problems for the beginner, and newly acquired stock readily accepts their new surroundings and feed. The genus of seven species of grass parakeets can easily be split into three sub-groups. |
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
|
|
Page 1 of 2 |
