First Gold-breasted waxbills of the season

[Rox]

It always amazes me how tiny they are! These two fledged on Sunday

The breeding season for the waxbills is now peaking from Jan to May. I can't wait to see what else pop's out the nest this season

[lovezebs]

Rox
You have babies? Lucky you!!! Are they like the size of the tip of your finger? The parents are so small as it is, It's almost hard to imagine the toddlers.

~Elana~

[monotwine]

Yay for babies! Too cute. They are so little.

[Rox]

lovezebs

Thanks ladies! Elana, I tried to take a photo with one next to a coin for a size comparison but they would not co-operate, lol. They are about the size of the tip of your finger, incredibly small. I always think I am going to break them when handling them, but they are amazingly tough and shouted their little heads off while putting the rings on

[Chrismurdoch3]

That's awesome congrats on the babies. what did you feed your parents?

[Sally]

Congrats on the Goldbreast babies! I too am amazed at how tiny they are and yet how loud they can protest while being banded.

[lovezebs]

Rox
Are there two or more? What's a usual clutch size?
How on earth, do you band someone so tiny? LOL.

~Elana~

[Sam007]

Congrats!

[isobea]

Rox - Congratulations! These babies are so tiny. When I was raising them I once had one of the brand new fledglings try to go through the aviary wire. He made it part way through and that wire is only 1cm x 1cm! I saw him just in time. Hopped in my car, bought lots of mosquito screen at Home Depot and enclosed the open sides of the aviary until the kids were big enough so they couldn't fit through anymore.
Elana - I remember I fed them lots of meal worms and a bunch of subterranean termites. One day I saw those emerging from between some rocks, got my tweezers, kneeled down and plucked them as they came up. Fed them to the goldbreasts in batches of 80 (had nothing else to do but count them) and they were gone in no time at all. Sore, sore knees for a while, but what we won't do for our birdies.
Iso

PS: I did have to put the bands on twice a few days apart since they just slipped off as if greased the first time around. Can't remember the size anymore.

[Sally]

Goldbreasts could shuck off those NFSS bands in a flash. I would band at least 3 days after fledge with size A, and they'd still come off. Have banded as late as 10 days after fledge, if I remember right. The new closed bands are a bit smaller, so I think size A will now stay on these babies.

[Colt]

So jealous. I want Goldbreast babies. Mine just lay eggs where ever they want but don't sit well. I'm going to try them in their own cage alone in the very near future. I just pulled their nest of choice today and there were at least 15 eggs. All infertile or DIS because the silly things move from nest to nest.

[Rox]

Chrismurdoch3@lovezebs

Chris, they get veggies and apple daily, as well as sprouts. My GB's really love broccoli over all other veggies. Live food has only been mealworms for the last month, as my maggot supplier is busy relocating to bigger premises and is holding onto all of his stock at the moment. They also catch some fruit flies and other bugs that go into the aviary, including ants.

Elana, they usually lay between 4 - 6 eggs but the most I have had fledge from a nest is 3.

Thanks so much everyone! I am actually amazed the leg bands are staying on (standard finch size split-band). I'm trying to ring them as they fledge this season, while still 'dumb'. Trying to catch them afterwards in an aviary while other birds are nesting is a mission...