FINCHforum

I left the Purple martin house in the aviary over the winter. Forgot about it really. I added some bamboo stalks from the yard for winter foliage since I removed the potted plants. During winter I cover with plastic and with the live plants it cause too much humidity to form.
Well the zebras and weavers stripped the bamboo and turned the martin house into a 'brothel house'... to put it nicely.
More zebras ...12 holes...12 nest... removing martin house SOON

This bamboo grass use to touch the ceiling






Fuzzies

How many more chicks

Haha! Nothing less than I would expect from zebras. How did you not know about it when you went to feed them though?

Ahh ain't love grand? And spring is just just around the corner!!

Domenic... I knew.... I mean I didn't really think about the plants as providing nesting material and I had forgotten about the Martin house in the corner. I noticed the orange weavers first building nest... then the zebras...all was peacful and I thought it was cute so I figured I would just watch and see what would happen. Curious to see if they would nest that close together, especially different species. Never heard any squabbles. This past week there were a few zeb fledglings so I decided to get the ladder out and have a looky
LOL every hole occupied and what lovely nest they have built.
There is a nice Orange weaver nest in the mist with beautiful blue eggs.......
Well, I was always curious to see how this style cage would work in a colony breeding setting.... Works well. I am not sure how many chicks...can't see into every nest some are so built up. I am now trying to track which parents are going into which nest and recording their band color. Seems that most parents are white or CFW. I am wondering if the Weavers drove off the darker zebras because they saw them as competition. I have less white out there than any other color. The only other color parent I have observed has been a very light silver. Interesting:-k

I will remove it once these have fledged and before any others hatch...I'll dispose of the unhatced eggs

you should known better

Ray

Rayray wrote:you should known better

Ray

Yes I should of

Ahh, a whole herd of fuzzy wuzzies.

Candace if you have any spare zebras once they fledge, I've heard poohbear is after a few dozen more

Candace,

You know you wanted more fuzzies! How many have you produced so far - wasn't it in the hundreds? Or close to it? I think Donna should try a nest house like that for her birds... it would be interesting to see what species would use it.

MLaRue wrote: I think Donna should try a nest house like that for her birds... it would be interesting to see what species would use it.

That would be great.... as long as it's not zebras in the nest. Thanks but no thanks!!

You need Igor for a day - he will turn you

There is nothing like a Zeeb talking to you and cuddling, jumping up and right now he is in the bird room free. I go in there and he follows me around on the floor - now I have to watch where I step. So, I bend down and say come here and he comes running like a baby Then of course he gets cuddles and I put him back up high - which he flies right back to me. They are super sweet birds

[quote="MLaRue"]Candace,

You know you wanted more fuzzies! How many have you produced so far - wasn't it in the hundreds? Or close to it? quote]

I have probably bred close to 700 zebras over the years. The majority when I bred different color mutations at the pet shop.Sold many, then I gave away all but about 30 of my favorite older breedstock to a girl that was breeding in large numbers to furnish brokers. I closed the shop in 2005 and sold most all of my finches and canaries except for 2 pair of goulds, the above mentioned zebras, 5 old canaries and the weavers. I sold all of my other finch species (stars, RCCB,BCCB,Parsons, Hecks, orange cheeks, euro. goldfinch, whydahs, singers, goulds,owls, strawberries,cut throats,societies,etc and grasskeets of sorts...) before closing the shop. I had a vast collection at one time...... I had planned on expanding into a full retail bird store including wild bird supplies. Even offering some of the local artisans pieces like birdhouses, birdbaths, even had someone lined up to build gazebo styled aviaries at their homes...but I met my Hubby and decided to spend time with him. Anyone that has ever made animals their work knows they are a 24/7 type job. Now they are my hobby
I did breed some of these older zebras that I kept on purpose ...mostly just experimenting but I have not seriously bred zebras in years. I just like their personalities..... but I have too many again. I think I will offer a real deal at the bird fair...buy one for $5 get one free ....

Please tell me again what colors you are working with?

Did you see those pictures Richard posted on the NFSS forum regarding the Dutch show? I want to be able to create some of those colors but don't think I have the colors to produce them...

MLaRue wrote:Please tell me again what colors you are working with?

Did you see those pictures Richard posted on the NFSS forum regarding the Dutch show? I want to be able to create some of those colors but don't think I have the colors to produce them...

I am NOT working with the zebra mutations. Gave that up years ago. Last year, I did a couple of experiments crossing BF with CFW and Phaoes and BF with fawn pieds...going for calico But I have not bred any pure line mutaion in years...like since 2004. What I have now are mutts... pet quality, not show. My zebras could not possibly help your line out..only cloud it. I have not looked at the Dutch show pictures but I'll check it out.
I am know intriqued with trying to figure out these gouldian mutations and inheritances. A real challnge for me.

When I did work with the zebras I had these mutations.
Whites, CFW, Black face, Black breast, Penquin, Florida Fancy,Fawn Isabelle, Silver light back, and Normal greys and fawns.