We are half way through my first ‘official’ breeding season and the new breeding aviary has been up for 3 months already. Since most of my birds are either having their first breeding season or are new pairs, I haven’t been expecting much this time round. The birds were mostly paired up in December, with some new waxbill pairs added since then. They are all doing very well considering
The Gouldian’s (6 pairs of which 3 are ‘experienced’ birds and the rest first timers) are doing well after an average of 2 dud clutches each. Most pairs have now fledged a clutch and are on a new nest. Pairs will be separated in May for the winter months.
My two Fife canary pairs were separated 2 weeks ago after each having 3 successful clutches. They were the early birds of the season with the first chicks being born in September already. The hens, who have been moved to the juvenile aviary, are still giving me the evil eye...
Of the waxbills, only the Golden-breasts are successfully fledgling young. My BB Cordon Bleu’s are driving me insane by tossing their young and a pair of Red-Eared waxbills have also hatched but tossed. Everyone is building nests all over the place so I am hoping that next season will be better once they have had more time to settle.
Joy, the Diamond dove, finally has a happy family! Some of you may remember that I caught her in my garden last year April. She was paired up with a young stud in December and after two over-eager laying attempts they fledged a real cutie pie
All the birds are kept outside and have constant access to a seed mix, fresh water, cuttlefish bone, eggshells and grit. Fresh fruit, veg and live mealworms are given in the morning, along with egg food. Dinner is fresh seed, egg food and a double dose of live mealworms. I’ve noticed that the smaller waxbills are not that keen on the eggshells or the cuttlefish, so I make a boiled seed mix, to which I add liquid calcium. Each aviary gets a heaped teaspoon of this morning and evening and ALL the birds go crazy for it, especially the waxbills. The birds are also fed from safe, edible plants in the garden and from whatever creepy-crawlies make it into the aviaries.
The only medication is worming quarterly and treatment for coccidiosis before and after breeding season, each course followed by pro-biotic’s.
The next big test is the upcoming winter. At least I am much better prepared this year, than I was last year. The birds in the 1st breeding aviary should be fine, wintering their second winter. It’s the new birds I need to get successfully through winter for next season. In winter, the aviaries are closed up completely with thick clear plastic to block from wind and rain and minor heat is added with 1 or 2 heat lamps inside, mainly used by the waxbills to cuddle up in front of.
Loved this shot of how the GB babies beg for food
Happy family
Complete busy-bodies these guys
Bath time!
This nest belongs to a pair of Red-eared waxbills. It's about the size of a soccer ball and has 3 entrances. The cock-nest is the main diversion on top and the main nest entry is right underneath the ball. They have to fly in from bottom up. The twig nest to the front left of the photo belongs to the Diamond doves.
This tiny bird made that giant nest
BB Cordon Bleu's
Bob
1 of 5 Gouldian chicks that was ringed on Friday
Look dad, I have a feather!
My 2 BC Cordon Bleu boys. Girls are almost impossible to find, so I decided that 2 boys would be the 'blue' contribution in the new aviary.
I let a patch of grass grow wild in the backyard. All the birds love using it for nesting and eating the small seed heads that form. 1 x feather pillow and you have feathers for life
Gold-breasted fledgling
The gorgeous Black-Cheeked waxbill. Very very active birds. Trying to get a photo of them is a mission!
The last canary bub of the season. It was born with a bad right foot, almost like their is no bone in the 'ankle' but it is managing just fine and can still use the foot for balance. Named Gympie
The Red-Headed finches have put all my concerns about their possible aggression aside and have calmed down so much since being outside. They have laid and brooded a clutch of eggs but they were duds. These birds are wild-caught and on permit, so if they breed, I will be super chuffed!
I mean what colour babies do you think would come out?
The bottom of the aviary gets cleaned up once a week, a task which I enjoy and so do the birds. They follow me around waiting to see what I have unearthed in the process. In the panted aviary, I often just dig the droppings into the soil, good fertilizer 