is there a way to make normal sun conure babies become darker

ive heard there are ways to get babies to get darker orange color what could i do for that to happen do i have to feed them something or do something???

cockatielfan17 said:

ive heard there are ways to get babies to get darker orange color what could i do for that to happen do i have to feed them something or do something???

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OK it can take years to get a desired color. If for instance you had 2 pair of suns that produced some darker coloured chicks, you would keep them, sex the offspring from unrelated nests pair them up & wait for them to breed. Keep selecting the bright colored chicks out of each clutch. Get to know others that are breeding for color & maybe swap babies.

Anything you breed with good color, keep it. You just never know.

Years ago before the Blue GCC'S were available in Australia, I was getting a few sickly blues from time to time. Because i didn't have the time or space I couldn't carry on with getting a better quality now other breeders have really healthy chicks & are getting a very good price for them. Like a few thousand dollars for some of the blue series.

yes i also heard in a thread u have to feed them special food that was high on something specific but i forgot what it was anyway it increases red pigment in there feathers

I am not aware of feeding parrots anything to keep the color but i do know there is something they give Red Factor Canaries to keep the red color.

I found this bit on canaries.
Red Factor Canaries

The Red Factor Canary (Serinus canarius) is an example of a color-bred canary, or a canary that is bred and prized for its color, rather than its song. These birds' body-types appear to be just like the other canaries, but with one special trait - the owner can influence the color of their bird. You may have heard that Flamingoes are white unless they are fed brine shrimp or other pigmented foods - this is true, and the same holds for the Red Factor Canary.
When the Red Factor Canary is hatched it is a pale peach or orange. It owes this original color to the Red Siskin, which was introduced to the canary line in the late 1920s. Most of the Red Factors, however, are color-fed, meaning that the owner feeds a special diet to create a bird that is a deep orange or red, much like those Flamingoes. You can recognize a Red Factor canary by this color.
All Canary males will sing, but the Red Factor is not known and bred for its singing - you may want to invest in a song canary if you want your house filled with beautiful song. Even though this canary is not "formally" trained to sing, it does have a pleasant song, and is not a noisy bird, like many companion birds can be. Canaries are quite happy in pairs, and you may want to consider a male and a female you make your selection. You can try your hand at breeding if you have a very compatible pair!
Canaries are gentle birds, and will not bite when you handle them. However, unlike most companion birds, they will not enjoy your close contact - this bird is best for the person who wants to add a bit of singing and beauty to their home. Even though your canary will not want you to hold him, he will recognize you as his owner, and may become quite fond of your company.
Your Red Factor Canary, unlike other canaries, will need to be color-fed in order to achieve the deep red or orange pigment that is specific to this type. You can find specially formulated color-food, or you can try your hand at creating a natural color-diet on your own: carrots, paprika, cherries, cayenne pepper, beets, yams, and any other orange and red natural food will help to change your bird's color. This natural way of color-feeding is purportedly better for the canary's overall health. Color-feeding should begin around molting time, when the canary is producing new feathers - the color will not appear in feathers that are already on the bird's body. If cared-for properly, Red Factor Canaries are reported to live for more than 10-12 years.

The easiest way would be to introduce red factor genes (I'm assuming darker means oranger here ) and to selectively bred from there. You're aware the safest (only recommended) cross is a normal x red factor, but over multiple generations is is possible to increase the amount of red in each offspring (As it is a cumulative gene) but I'm not sure of the exact breeding pattern that is followed. There are red factor breeders who would be able to tell you though

As for colour feeding, we do it with fish too. Basically, if say the red pigment on your bird is pigment A (yellow, orange and red are caused by the same pigment, just varying amounts. Yellow = a little and red = a lot of it) feeing foods high in pigment A will cause that bird to deposit the excess pigment into it's feathers. That is why many birds are 'colour fed' just before and during a moult. However, the birds genetics will control the limit of pigment, ie, only so much will be deposited before that gene says 'no more' and the rest is excreted as waste. Red factors have genes that make them capable of depositing more red pigment into growing feathers. A normal sun will only deposit so much before it reaches its threshold. And some red factors can deposit more, some not as much. It's a genetically controlled mechanism. Colourfeeding a normal sun may get you a slight increase in pigment, but nothing overly noticeable. A healthy diet and UV light (natural or artificial) would give you a better colour then colourfeeding anyway.

Incidentally there are a lot of sun mutations out there. Red factors, clearwings, etc.

I know i am getting a bit off topic here but these 2 sun chicks i am rearing. They are both from the same nest. Parents - male a split pied & hen a pied. Not a real good pied. But to get to the point I have selected the most yellow birds for pairing & to date we have a totally yellow baby with all clear flight feathers & only the darker tail with yellow tips. I have been trying to breed a very yellow bird by selecting the best of the best & it has taken me 3 generations to get there.

I am not sure of the genetics of this mutation & no one in Australia seems to be able to give me an answer. It seems to be resessive but have heard from others that it's dominant. Who really knows.

Anyway I haven't been able to find out any information on the Red Factors either except here in Australia they are selective breeding the birds that have a huge amount of orange/red.

they are very cute birds

thanks alot everyone very helpful

Pedro, that yellow baby is amazing! I want one lol Wish you didn't live so far away

Pedro, out of interest where in Aus are you located? I have some people I know breeding yellow suns too. Are yours clearwings or pieds? Very beautiful!

Amber said:

Pedro, out of interest where in Aus are you located? I have some people I know breeding yellow suns too. Are yours clearwings or pieds? Very beautiful!

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I'm also very interested in knowing where you are, Pedro...

Amber I also know heaps of people that breed Pied Suns but not many breed the WA Pied or Golden Sun Conure as some call them now. My birds are from these. I have been test breeding mine for 3 generations now & just about to start on the 4th so will see what they produce.

If you talk around the breeders some say there are 2 different pied & that is the East coast Pied (Dominant gene) & the WA Pied (Recessive gene). I some what think that they are all related. Because when the first couple of coloured birds appeared they didn't anticipate the normal birds being splits. I would dearly love to find out if indeed the both mutations are related & if it's a recessive or dominant gene. Apparently the breeder that first bred the yellow bird sold them all to Bird World in Perth & I have been told that the mutation has now been lost but i still believe there are a few good looking birds out there.

Lene i live in Queensland north of you.

I am looking for a breeder of Red factor & yellow sun conures in Australia would love to know of any please as I am looking to buy

I don't recall red factor sun conures being available in Australia. If there are any in Australia, don't know how common they are or not, nor if they are the same/similar to American RF's.

Best of luck in your search!

Pedro, those are beautiful babies!

hi, Pedro, I wave been looking everywhere for more info on the W.A Pied Sun conure with little to no luck have messed on the forum as well with no answers as it seems the forum isn't active any more we are Sun Conure breeders in Sydney and would appear we have a bloodline back to the WA Pied sun conure or the Golden Sun conure would love to chat and find out more my number is 0477026696 https://www.facebook.com/beaksnfeathersaviaries/videos/200598134453363/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCYNPqJTAbNehIios9-YCk5TSUkcxCbtN7YFC7ovfVGfuuATtLls3-f1CpCsLGpSb-oN8gp9PyRfFcXYVpbOu11PPHeMZZpk4AxYO0y0Ia1AqrTETvrjHTFAIi4A7xl7F8mNHmyq0uSUvWK75843ajKx7NXpRqDzLz9K6JbPgWWhv9fonVBVGiMh5nawg-xHTCBR6QrBDuVMtpAXSddSJFff3g6-P3g8_1jaOxUQawv9lfG-8A34ZO_SdEKntcXopTjiK9S7qP7M7PSs1R0VYcmIzWQL4l8UrMsckcvfODy0i1TcO9bBnyB816VXABy_GgrS3kRyjRaYc8dAANUn2i3tTX8J1w3m4-aMWdE_Nsrf6bzm02C8TBhMNE&__tn__=-R

I'm not sure about darkness, but I DO know that one of the key factors in plumage color is diet. While Skittles has always had bright colors, they became more vibrant as his diet changed.

His feathers now basically 'glow' now. If you look at them in the light, they look glossy. It's so apparent that I got worried and emailed my avian vet. They told me that the gloss is totally normal when the feathers are very healthy.

My point being, look into the diet you're feeding your sunny. That being said, Skittles has been on a pellet diet since I got him almost 9 years ago and the 'gloss' has just become pronounced in the last year. It normally takes years for feather plumage to change particularly when its diet related because it has to be constant.


The beak, nails and feet are also important indicators.