FINCHforum

I was hoping I could get some questions answered from all you Parrot finch breeders.I have one pair that has young ready to fledge this week. I cannot see the babies too well in the nest as the parents have made a really closed nest. I have a redheaded male/split to seagreen, and a seagreen female.

My questions are:

What combinations of chicks can I get? Can I get both seagreen and redheaded males and females or just one of a specific gender/color?

Also, can you tell the difference between the seagreen and the redheaded chicks before they get their adult feathers? If so how?

Thanks so much these are my first parrot finch babies and I'm so excited and want to learn more.

Natalie

You can get both normal and seagreen. Both sexes.
You can tell as soon as they leave the nest what they will be.
The body colors will be a drab army green for the normal and a grey/green/blue for the seagreen. The mask will come in within a few months. Here are 2 that are just fledged.
Not the best pics...but it's what I've got. Hope you can see the color difference.
Normal

Seagreen


Congrats on the chicks I love parrot finches and they usually make the best parents...and yes, they do build some elaborate nest

Hi Natalie,
Congradulations on the new babies, that didnt take to long did it. I look at thier tail feathers, the red heads will be reddish and the sea greens a light orange. They may also show a little color in the bib area of the head and yes you should get all combinations of colors male and hens. They should be nice big birds, he came from one of my best blood lines. I have alot more coloring up right now if your interested in anymore. I have 6 pairs breeding and my blue faced are finally starting to produce 12 babies in the last month. I am also raising owl finches now and should have some colored out in a few months if you want one for your single bird. Let me know, Rich

Congrats on the chicks!! What size aviaries/flights or cages do you all have them in?

I am also raising owl finches now and should have some colored out in a few months if you want one for your single bird. Let me know, Rich

Hi Rich-Yes they went to nest quickly. They made the most beautiful little nest which included a rainbow of the feathers from the lady gouldians and scarlet chested parakeets. SO far they have been wonderful parents and the babies should fledge this weekend. I may keep one and get another mate for it from you, I will let you know. Also I would love to get a female owl from you. My little owl is lonely. I got my owl from Huey (the guy whose number I gave you). You didn't by chance get your from him too?

Candace-Thanks for the pictures, really helpful

Liz-I house almost all my birds in a 7x4 foot aviary outdoors. I also have a 4x3 foot flight outdoors with 1 pair (needs 1 more maybe another parrot finch pair). My husband is not a big fan of having the birds inside. The only one indoors right now is my new baby parrotlet

Here are my aviary and flight. My flight only houses my 1 blue pair of gouldians. In this picture it was not stocked with birds, perches, and feeder yets
I built the flight with the scraps from my aviary. I usually move babies into it when the avairy gets too full.

Congrats on the birds, you must have done the right thing so they produce quickly.

Wait a minute, I did not know you are here too Rich. Why her birds produce quickly and mine have not, did you get me the old duds

I have had 6 blue face PF babies, 4 so far have proved to be males to me, what the odds...

Albert,
Whats a dud look like I have never seen one. I guess Natalie just knows how to take better care of them . How many pairs are laying since you switched them up?
Talk to you later, Rich

[quote="kcdozy"]How many pairs are laying since you switched them up?[/quote]

All

Albert-Glad you have some birds laying now. I just give mine lots of nesting materials, sprouted seed daily, and lots of greens and millet. I'm really excited about the babies, Like I said the nest is so think I can't really tell how many there are, maybe just three. Anyway, good luck with your birds. It sounds like you are doing well with the blue faced. Are you still trying for scarlets?

Usually mine produce 2 to 4 per clutch and 3 being the norm. Tough they always lay 5 or 6 eggs.

I have had 2 fertile eggs from the pied male and normal female pair, so hope I will have the pied normal soon. I also have had 6 blue faced chicks, just spot another singing today, meaning 5 are males

I have had some luck with my Peales too, 3 babies so far, plus some fertile eggs.

I am in the process of getting some lutino blue faced, I am shooting for a shipment from Canada, but still have a lot to do before the birds get on board.

I was thinking for sometime about scarlets after seeing yours, but then have decided to satisfy with what I have now.

Off topic: I think that's so cool that you three (Albert, Natalie and Rich) all know each other and have gotten birds from Rich too! That makes the forum even MORE fun

I was thinking for sometime about scarlets after seeing yours, but then have decided to satisfy with what I have now.

Sorry Albert I was mistaking you for a moment with someone I sold a scarlet too... Oops. Buy the way I found a spit for blue female for my blue gouldian male. They will get their own flight and will hopefully produce some young this season. If you get any this season maybe we can trade one for new bloodlines...

Yes, Liz-there is a good group of aviculturists here in Southern CA

One more question:

My parrot finches are now building another next in a box near thier current babies. Is this bad? Will they go to nest before fully rearing thier current clutch? Anyone had any experience with this?