I Went To "Look" at Some Black and White Mannikins Today...

[lovezebs]

I came upon an elderly chap on kijiji, who is turning '80' in short order, and is downsizing some of his bird collection. Some of you may have noticed my Black and White Mannikin question a couple of days ago. Anyway, he was advertising different birds for sale, so of course I had to go and have a look... Only a quick little look mind you. Brought my little bird travelling cage along with me just in case... really wasn't planning on getting anything today.

Well, this man and his bird collecting friend, have turned the whole basement of a large apartnent building (barring a small tenant laundry area) into a bird room, or rather a series of bird rooms. Cages, flights and free flying birds everywhere.
What does the man have? Holy Crow! Gouldians, Canaries, Zebras, Societies, Green Finches, Parrotletts, Linnies, Cockatiels, Budgies, Red billed Fire Finches, mules, Black and White Mannikins, different kinds of Parrots.... and different colours and mutations of of all of the above mentioned. I was like a kid in a candy shop, with my small cage grasped in my sweaty little paw and my mouth hanging open.

I really liked the Black and Whites, but after some kind advice from a forum member, decided to forget about them. However, how could I say no to a couple of baby Red Billed Fire Finch boys for $20.00 a piece? And then there was this
gorgeous looking Zebra boy with a twisted toe that I could have for next to nothing, and of course he had to bring a little girl with him. And then there were these angelic looking pure white Socies with pink beaks and little pink feet...

People, my name is Lovezebs, and I'm a Finchaholic.

They came home with me in my little travelling cage, and thank God they were the only ones.

Those lovely Green Parrotlet pair for $75.00 were so tempting, as were the stunning pair of blues, for $175.00 . And that pair if pure white budgies, that he offered to let breed, so that I could have a hand raised, hand tamed baby budgie.... And that sweetheart of a crested little Canary girl..... And lets not forget the absolutly dreamy Canary/Red Siskin mule...

What can I say Folks, I'm ashamed of myself for so little self control, but oh God, I'm so glad I went!!!

[lovezebs]

I have some pictures, but they are not all that great. However I do want to share them with you guys.
Could one of our Zebra experts pipe in and tell me what my new Zebra boy and girl are, please? I'd really appreciate it.

[lovezebs]

And some more pictures:

[lovezebs]

And some more pictures:

[MiaCarter]

Lovely lovely!

Your description of you clutching the cage, sweating a tad, wide eyes with dilated pupils, looking a tad manic......hilarious!
That's me too!

Let's see, on the mutations....

My mind isn't up and running yet, so I'm hesitant to even attempt this! It's a lot of thinking! LOL

Not sure on the first one. Is his back white or silvery grey? Perhaps a lightback?

I think the second may be a pied lightback. Looks like he's got a pied patch of white on the leading edge of his wing.

Looks like you may have an orange breasted and CFW? (Third down)

Really not sure on the last two. (Actually, not real confident on any of those guesses! LOL Hard to tell the exact colorations.)

They're lovely whatever they are!

[lovezebs]

MiaCarter
Mia, Mia, Mia... there are only two. They are a couple. The boy (twisted toe) has Orange Cheeks, the girl has Gray Cheeks.

As for looking 'a tad manic'...... I think it was more along the lines of, ape poop psychotic and coco puff craaazzzyyy!

[MiaCarter]

lovezebs

Ah, gotcha! That makes more sense!
That's funny that she's got grey cheeks. I thought it was pale orange in that photo.

So my revised guesses would be a pied lightback for the male and perhaps just a normal grey cheek for the girl?
I'd thought it was reddish striping on her chest originally, but obviously not the case. Grey cheeks do have a ruddy tone on their chest so it would make sense.
Great photo of that in the female at the top of the page here: http://www.efinch.com/species/fczeb.htm

Lovely whatever they are! LOL

[Sheather]

You know lovezebs I guess I must thank you, in a way, because every time I see you've gotten a new bird or six, it verifies I'm not quite as crazy I'd begun to think for considering getting another one...

Right now I've got nine societies sitting collectively on ten eggs, two Javas beginning a clutch of who knows how many, a manic bipolar pair of love-hate canaries, three silverbills, including a confused hybrid male who thinks he's a society, and an incredibly lonely, mopey little random sidewalk parakeet who I just know is going to need another parakeet friend if we are planning on keeping him permanently... not to mention the fact that I'm still planning, if things go well, to possibly order a pair of (not disabled ) orange-head Gouldians and a pair of orange-cheek waxbills for myself around Christmas this year from the Finch Farm... and probably keep at least ONE of the latest society babies... and then those firefinches SURE are pretty... and what if the canaries breed....

[lovezebs]

Sheather
Wait till you're my age, my young friend... . I have lived your years three times and then some. I'm allowed to be as crazy as I wish, and then some.
Actually, many days it's my birds and other pets that keep me sane. They bring love and laughter and give purpose in life. They make one see beauty and the positive side of life rather than the negative.

[delray]

lovezebs those red bellied finches look really awesome, as well as all the others. Good luck and congrats!! FINCHALHOLOC ALERT!! Lol ;)

[KarenB]

You know you're a finchaholic when....

...you are constantly thinking of ways to make room for more finches.

...you just added the word "finchaholic" to your dictionary....

Who needs a dining room table, anyway?!

You do see my signature line, right? Lol

[KarenB]

Oh, btw, congrats on your new babies. They're beautiful! Sorry, can't help on mutations. I have decided I can't have zebras, because then I couldn't stop collecting, because I'd want every mutation known to man.

[wilkifam]

People, my name is Lovezebs, and I'm a Finchaholic

@lovezebs

OK, so when I saw the topic in your post, I knew we would be seeing some new birds.

Hello Lovzebs! My name is Lori and I too am a finchaholic. I commend you for having such self control there. You could have come home with so much more...... LOL

Aren't the fire finches adorable? I was surprised at just how tiny they are. Chrismurdoch3 told me that he has had fledglings that could fit through the bars of the cage.....

[lovezebs]

The new kids spent a peaceful and uneventful night.
This morning everybody is in good spirits.
Little red bills sitting inside the food dish stuffing their tiny faces.
New liitle angel socies happily preening..
Twisty toed handsome zebbie is adding his honk to the rest of the crew, introducing himself from across the kitchen.
And his sweet little girl is looking around with great interest.

The rest of the feathered family is busy tucking in their breakfast. The morning community bathing should commence shortly .

My kitchen sounds like a tropical paradise at sunrise.

[lovezebs]

wilkifam
I have heared about these babies escaping through bars as well. No worry there right now. They are both boys LOL.

Yes, I could have easily come home with more, but... one has to practice some restraint....