Saffron (Natural / Wild) Breedin Season

[Randy]

The subject ask it all. A little background thought. I pick up a pair at a local place called Traders Villlage. The seller (using my limited Spanish) got the birds from a breeder in Mexico who breed these birds from a wild caught pairs.
Well after a little fruit, mealworms, seeds and quiet time. Both seem to be very happy, a little shy. But the littlebit I could find on these bird says this is normal. After three months together I placed a large next box in there 24"X 24"x36" flight.
They took to it very quickly and had a ball throwing all the nesting out on to the floor of bird room. They use the box for sleeping. Do I need to wait for there wild breeding seasons? There habitat I think is Peru, South American so doesn't that make our Winter there Summer? Any help or suggestions? Thxs

[Nipper06]

Randy,

Saffron Finches also live in Hawaii now. They were introduced there and now thrive on several islands. I was on a bird watching trip there 2 years ago and saw them on the Big Island. I don't know if they changed their breeding season or not, since Hawaii is in the northern hemisphere.

Anyway, my suggestion would be to leave the nestbox in there, with some nesting material available somewhere in the cage, and then forget about it. They will breed when they are ready and the less you disturb the cage, the more secure they will feel. You might get some plastic plants to add some foliage in the cage and they might feel more secure - and thus, more inclined to breed.

Here's a photo of a Saffron finch in Hawaii. I didn't take it - it came from this website about Hawaiian Birds:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= ... n%26sa%3DN

[hilljack13]

Hi Randy,

It's up the the birds when they are ready like Nipper said. The only thing is if you let them breed in winter you will need to give them some artifical lighting to make up for lost daylight. You won't have much of a chance giving hatchlings only 12 hours of light.