FINCHforum

How important is height to the grass hiding Waxbills, mainly the Orange cheek? If my structure is too high and I only put potted grass and plant in hte bottom of the cage will they still be utilized? Should I put all food and water in the bottom of the cage as well to enhance normal Waxbill life? I have a flight that is only 2' tall and 4' wide and and I have a flight that is 5' by 6'. If they go in the larger cage I will also be getting Gold-breasted waxbills, but would like to know what's "best" first.

The birds will play in the grass, and forge on the ground but they will most definitely benefit from open space to fly around. I have my food dishes and water cups on the bottom of the cage where the birds can spread it around and pick at it like they would in nature.

If you can stick your birds in the bigger cage that will be ideal...good luck! I have a pair of Gold Breasts and they're very hyper...they love to fly around in the open space as well as forge on the ground.

Have you had success breeding either Orange Cheeks or Gold Breasted in a mixed aviary?

FinchezRule wrote: I have my food dishes and water cups on the bottom of the cage where the birds can spread it around and pick at it like they would in nature. ...they love to fly around in the open space as well as forge on the ground.

My feeders are up at each perch, so it's easier for me to slide the tray out to clean. But I do notice that the finches tend to scatter the food, then go down and pick at it on the ground.

My GB also love to fly, and do loops around the perches which run the width of the cage. They can also hover! Very athletic! Definitely they'll make use of the space, even though they forage on the ground a lot.

my orange breasted waxbills breed well in a mixed aviary, have 2 pairs on eggs now, they have no problems at all with any of the other birds.
all of my finches are passive species though