When is it "that time of year"

[birdman603]

Let me apologize in advance if this question has already been answered. I have read many posts and I cant seem to find a definitive answer.

With regards to waxbills, what time of year is their breeding season?

I have read that it is spring into summer. But then I have read many posts that say you can bring finches into breeding condition whenever we want with a high protein diet etc. My black crowns are unfortunately wild caught, do that have some kind of internal circadian clock that lets them know that it is breeding season? Do people start feeding live food to bring them into condition or do you wait until they are building a nest to feed them live food? I have built up a knowledge base from reading but I only have a little over 2 years experience owning finches and that's where I really lacking

My black crowns that I purchased are in rough shape. Some of them are missing a toe. I'm not sure if they are molting or if they had their feathers plucked but they are missing a lot of feathers on their backs between the wings. I bought them from a reputable supplier and was shocked when they arrived. I was going to try to breed them this summer but I'm thinking I should not even try until they regain their feathers. With everyone here not having any luck I cant imagine why I would be successful. But I'm going to try anyway!
So what do you guys think?

One more question. I read everywhere that many waxbills build their own nests, but then I see pictures of them in the pre made bamboo nests. My lavenders sleep in a store bough bamboo nest. If they decide to breed will they leave the pre made nest and build their own, or will they supplement the existing pre made nest with nesting material?

Thanks in advance!

[Sally]

When waxbills are in the wild, I'm sure they maintain a fairly regular breeding schedule, which would be during our (in the U.S.) winter months. Mother Nature has programmed them to breed when food is plentiful, so they will be able to raise their babies.

In captivity, some birds stick to their instincts as far as timing, while others don't seem to follow it at all. Many of the waxbills will do better during the winter months in the U.S., while others will breed just about any time, if they are brought into breeding condition with lots of live and/or high-protein food.

I've found many of my waxbills prefer to build their own nests, using coco fiber and/or grass/hay, while some will use the premade wicker nests. Even when using the wicker nests, they prefer to line them with coco fiber and/or grass/hay. Almost all wasbills like to use feathers, preferably white, as lining for their nests too.

With your Black-crowns, I'd work on getting them into condition. I'd build them up with lots of egg food and veggies, in addition to a good basic seed diet along with minerals. As they start to improve, they may begin to show signs of coming into breeding condition. Then I would add live food to see if they will go ahead and come into breeding condition. Make sure they have enough space to get lots of good exercise, too.

[birdman603]

That is exactly the answers I was looking for! Thank you so much for that information! I really appreciate it!

[Rox]

Some waxbills will breed year round (like the Common waxbill), while others have a fairly strict breeding season. As Sally mentioned, this is usually after the summer rains and there is plenty of green seed on the stalks and bugs about, so lots of variety of food available. There unfortunately isn't much info listed for the black crowns though, as to when their preferred season is.

I recently joined a bird club in northern SA, which is where quite a few of the waxbills occur naturally in the wild. Through the club, I've been able to get in touch with some breeders who are successful with breeding a variety of waxbill species regularly. The most interesting part, is that a lot of their African species prefer to breed through the winter months. Both in their aviaries and what they have observed in the wild. The main thought pattern behind this is due to the high summer temps being a breeding deterrent. And we had some killer temps this year, so I can understand the reasoning. I've been advised that if I want to my birds to breed, I need to let them breed now through winter. A daunting thought for possible egg-binding and losing hens but with lots of calcium supplements, I'm giving it a go.

It's pretty much going against everything that the 'book's tell you about breeding in the spring/summer months only. I was initially told to separate all of my pairs going into winter, especially my twinspots and violet-eared. If I did that, I could potentially have been separating them during their preferred season, hence never getting chicks. But we will see

[StodOne]

birdman603 As far as I know waxbills diet should consist of live food every day , it is like their main part of the diet , besides that I don't have a clue about them.

[birdman603]

I know this is off topic but its just crazy how easy society finches are to breed. I wonder if we will ever get to a point like that with waxbills in the USA

[Sally]

I know this is off topic but its just crazy how easy society finches are to breed. I wonder if we will ever get to a point like that with waxbills in the USA

That would be an answer to our prayers, but I don't see it happening in my lifetime. For one thing, there just aren't as many breeders working with waxbills as there are with Societies, so we are still relying on wild-caught birds for bloodlines.

[birdman603]

I just said this because I am breeding my society's because the males are going crazy! I put a nest in their cage and the next day the female was sitting on 5 eggs. It's like she had them in the oven and they were just waiting. If anyone is in NH and would like some society finches for free they are welcome to them. Very healthy happy birds!

[Sheather]

Society finches, as well as the other most commonly bred finche (canaries, Javas, zebras, Gouldians) are just naturally better suited for domestication, as they are mostly herbivorous by nature and don't require insect protein in their diets.