Owl Finches

Tips for successful breeding and troubleshooting breeding problems.
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The Maltese
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Owl Finches

Post by The Maltese » Tue May 16, 2017 12:44 pm

Ok, so I have 8 owl finches which I believe are a good mix of males and females. Untill two days ago they showed no interest in nest building no matter what nesting material or nests I provided.

Yesterday I built a shelf with some wicker nests beneath it with tons of cover (faux plants) and finally today i noticed that they have ignored the wicker nests and built a nest on the shelf!!! :D

However. :cry: I have also noticed that one of the owls is being heavily plucked at the back of her neck and had blood beneath her beak :? Anyone has any idea what might be going on?

Thanks for your feedback
The Malteser

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Sojourner
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Re: Owl Finches

Post by Sojourner » Tue May 16, 2017 2:23 pm

Well I'm no expert - I spend the vast amount of my time trying to get my societies to STOP breeding - but sometimes when they are nesting they will pluck themselves or each other for nesting material.

But that doesn't explain the blood under her beak ...

Another thing that can happen is that when someone starts laying they can get more territorial with other birds and the low bird on the totem pole can get plucked.

Breeding is better done either in a very large aviary or with pairs of birds separated into individual breeding cages. They may just be too crowded now that love is in the air. What size is their cage?
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lovezebs
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Re: Owl Finches

Post by lovezebs » Thu May 18, 2017 6:42 pm

The Maltese

Anything new with your little Owls?
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The Maltese
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Re: Owl Finches

Post by The Maltese » Fri May 19, 2017 2:06 am

Ok ... BIG news ...

Since my last post I have discovered that the nest which was built on the shelf does NOT belong to any of the owls!!!! I had a pair of shaft tails sitting on eggs and one has fledged yesterday. The nest on the shelf either belongs to the shafts or has been taken over by them!

The little buggers (owls) still do not show any interest in nest building.
My guess is that they are plucking the weakest bird in the colony.
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