More Cocky Craziness

[The Silver Fox]

Time for an update on the baby cocky that was incubated with a pair of walnuts.

This is baby Clancy (so named because he overflowed a lot when I was feeding him - for those that know Banjo Paterson's poem)

I had my pair of Sulphurs in an aviary with a pair of Gang-Gangs and I think the male Gang-Gang may have misbehaved with the female Sulphur. I've not heard of them hybridizing before, though both can cross with Galahs. The male Sulphur treated the nest and chick as his own and the Gang-Gang has shown no other interest in the Sulphurs other than an occasional squabble.

Baby Clancy, now 8 weeks old and starting to wean, has a prominently grey forehead, light grey around the throat and grey markings on the wings and head. His (her?) crest is yellow with a very definite grey tinge and it is quite wispy: it seems to be between the Sulphur and Gang-Gang in shape. He looks like he will be a lot smaller than a Sulphur but larger than a Gang-Gang.

Anyway, I would be interested in any comments on his possible hybrid status. If it is a hybrid, I think he may be a she because there is no sign at all of any red colouring, but a DNA test will be done soon.

If Clancy is a hybrid, it then raises the question of what I do with him/her. Do I sell him (any offers?) or do I keep him to cross back with another Gang-Gang to see if I can bring out some some stronger colours and, possibly, some orange in the crest or head? I ask that, but do understand that many members may have strong views against hybridizing birds.

[silkiechick]

wow that is a interesting looking bird! very cute!

[LittleBudgie2005]

Very interesting... And he/she is cute too... Good luck with finding out on wat happened...

[Silvercloud]

Haha love the crest. Clancy looks very cheeky.

[Matt]

I am not convinced it is a hybrid, though the colouration is very interesting. It will be interesting to see how he matures, that will confirm if he is a hybrid or not.

[The Silver Fox]

Thanks for those thoughts Matt. I'm trying to be open to the real possibility that you're right, so I value opinions for and against.

If it was just the grey in his(?) feathers, I would certainly agree with you that Clancy's probably not a hybrid. But the colour and form of the crest make me fairly convinced: the grey is very prominent in the yellow of the crest and the form appears to be about half way between the two species. Also he is very much smaller than the Sulphur I raised last year from the same "pair" and, again, is about half way between the two species.

I'm planning to come up to Perth in late Feb and will take him to a few dealers to get their opinions on whether he's a hybrid, his possible value and what I should do with him. If the general thought is that he is valuable, I'll probably sell him, otherwise I may well keep him to cross back with another Gang-Gang in the hope of coming up with birds that look more like a GG but have more of the friendly temperament of a Sulphur - just a vague thought at present! Clancy is certainly very mushy and affectionate, one of the best birds I have hand-reared.

Coming into Perth we usually take Armadale Rd to the freeway, so I may be able to call in to your place on the way, if you're interested in seeing Clancy up close. Let me know and I'll contact you re date and time.