European Goldfinch nesting time

[Harley2013]

I have a male/ female goldfinch. I have an open canary nest in the upper corner of my flight and it is hidden a little by greenery. My female has discovered it and is going back and forth to the nest throughout the day, like she is checking it out for a future nest. Is this what she's doing? When is goldfinch breeding time and what do the use to line their nests so I can place it in the flight and hope the zebras don't steal it. Lol!

[isobea]

Harley2013 - their nesting time should start around mid April/ May. I always gave mine coconut fiber, grasses, fine roots, fibers from old potato sacks and the fine dried silk from previous year's corn cobs. They would use that to line the inside of their nests. It will make them feel safer if their cage (and nest) is as high up as possible. Don't feed them just the typical finch mix, they need a lot of oily seeds like niger, perilla (if you can find it), some sunflower chips, lettuce seeds, and many others. There is a company here in the US that sells an amazing seed mix for siskins and other oily-seed loving birds. For the life of me I can't remember their name, but I believe the post is somewhere in the health/nutrition forum. I think it was connected to somebody's question about Europ. goldfinches.
I hope this helps. Good luck with them, they are wonderful birds.
Iso

[Harley2013]

Oh my gosh Iso........I just saw your North county San Diego! I was born and raised in San Diego. Moved to New Jersey 15 years ago. My family still lives there. El Cajon, Escondido, Ramona. Small world! Where are you?

[isobea]

Harley2013 - Tammie, yes, it is a small world. I am in Carlsbad, so your family lives kind of in a semi-circle around me. Have been here for over 29 years now. It's a great place to live and sure beats the cold winters in northern Germany that I grew up with. How do you deal with the winter weather in NJ? Do you ever come back to visit?
Iso

PS: We have something else in common: my son, Kevin, is 23 years old just like Tanner! On top of that I have a border terrier, Josh, who is 11 like Deeds. Instead of a second son, though, I have a second border terrier, Sandy, 10 years old.

[Harley2013]

It really is a small world. New Jersey winters are cold, but being born and raised in California, I enjoy the seasons. I do come back every year in the summer for 2 weeks or so to visit my family and see the old stomping grounds. Lol!