Narrowed down to 2 species

[Susan39]

I believe I narrowed it down to choosing 2 species: Orange Breasted Waxbill or the Lavendar Waxbill. Maybe even the Silverbill Waxbill. Any suggestions?

[Sally]

I don't have experience with Silverbills, but if you are interested in breeding, I'd go with the Orangebreasted Waxbills, also known as Goldbreasted Waxbills. They are easy to sex, since the males have the distinctive red eye stripe. They are easier to breed than Lavenders. They do need good spacing on cages, since they can get through any space larger than 1/2". Even with 1/2" spacing, they can get through some of the more inexpensive cages. Wire mesh instead of bars solves this problem. For beauty, the Lavenders are gorgeous birds, but males and females look alike, so it is difficult to purchase a true pair.

[Susan39]

I don't have experience with Silverbills, but if you are interested in breeding, I'd go with the Orangebreasted Waxbills, also known as Goldbreasted Waxbills. They are easy to sex, since the males have the distinctive red eye stripe. They are easier to breed than Lavenders. They do need good spacing on cages, since they can get through any space larger than 1/2". Even with 1/2" spacing, they can get through some of the more inexpensive cages. Wire mesh instead of bars solves this problem. For beauty, the Lavenders are gorgeous birds, but males and females look alike, so it is difficult to purchase a true pair.

Thank you for your response. Are Lavender Waxbills bigger than Goldbreasted Waxbills?

[kyle]

Susan39
Gold breasts are the smallest of the finches kept. They are also the quietest. Of my finches gold breasts are the ones that escape most often. When servicing the cage be careful they don't fly out the door. I have put hanging plastic plants in front of the door so when I put my hand in they don't fly out. If you get a pair you will find that they are always side-by-side.

[Susan39]

I don't have experience with Silverbills, but if you are interested in breeding, I'd go with the Orangebreasted Waxbills, also known as Goldbreasted Waxbills. They are easy to sex, since the males have the distinctive red eye stripe. They are easier to breed than Lavenders. They do need good spacing on cages, since they can get through any space larger than 1/2". Even with 1/2" spacing, they can get through some of the more inexpensive cages. Wire mesh instead of bars solves this problem. For beauty, the Lavenders are gorgeous birds, but males and females look alike, so it is difficult to purchase a true pair.

The cage I am looking at is 1/2 bar space. Do you think I will have a problem with them escaping?

[Susan39]

Susan39
Gold breasts are the smallest of the finches kept. They are also the quietest. Of my finches gold breasts are the ones that escape most often. When servicing the cage be careful they don't fly out the door. I have put hanging plastic plants in front of the door so when I put my hand in they don't fly out. If you get a pair you will find that they are always side-by-side.

Thank you for your suggestions. Do you think the Orange Golden Breasted Finch is quieter than the Gouldian Finch?

Does the Orange Breasted Finch do well with Silverbills?

[Susan39]

I am having a difficult time trying to find a cage that has 3/8 bar spacing. Can you help me?

[Sally]

It really depends on the cage. I have the heavier duty HQ flights, and there are many places where the spacing is not quite 1/2". As long as I have bonded pairs, then they usually stay put, but babies would be able to be out in a hot second.

The GB waxbill is definitely quieter than a Gouldian. Can't say about Silverbills, no experience with them.

[Sally]

I am having a difficult time trying to find a cage that has 3/8 bar spacing. Can you help me?

The only one I know of is the Prevue F030. This is pricey, but a great flight cage for multiple pairs. I have Red-billed Fire finches, which are only a little bit bigger than GB waxbills, in one with no escape problems. This cage is also a nice-looking cage--decorated with fake plants, it can be quite attractive.

[kyle]

Susan39
Sally is right the preview F030 has 3/8 bar spacing. Perfect for the smallest finches. You could keep a pair of gouldians and a pair of gold breast in that cage peacefully. Gouldian's are not very loud but the gold breasts are the quietest for sure. Like you when I started with finches I was only interested in keeping the quieter species. If you're not interested in breeding they get along well with other peaceful species provided the flight cages large enough. With my finches the societies are the loudest. The gouldian's come in second but it's a pretty little song and certainly not annoying and then the gold breasts who hardly make any noise at all.

[birdman603]

I have never keep orange breasted waxbills but I do have 2 pairs of lavenders. Lavenders are beautiful birds. They are probably my favorite waxbill. No they deff are my favorite waxbill. They are the species that got me into waxbills. I have seen them listed as aggressive but I have never seen anything like that from my 2 pairs. They are very inquisitive. At night one will sit in the nest and watch my every move. It always seems like they are watching and judging you! They like to fly around a lot. I keep one of my pairs in a 5 and 1/2 foot long flight cage and I feel that like is a decent size for them (always want to go bigger). The other pair is in a smaller 3 foot long flight cage and I feel like that is just too small for them. I'm in the market for another larger flight cage!
They are also very healthy eaters. They eat whatever I give them. Chia seeds, flax seeds, egg food, bugs, many kinds of vegetables. Other birds can be picky about what they eat but not the lavender!
even though I imagine that gold breasted waxbill is a great bird I cant imagine anything topping the lavender waxbill! Get a pair or 2!

[mrski]

birdman603 do you have other species with your lavenders? I think they are beautiful too, and have always wanted a pair, but I worried about adding them with my cordon bleus, because they are listed as aggressive. I wonder if it might be worth a try.

[birdman603]

I have cordon blue and fire finches with them. I also keep one pair with black crowns which are extremely non agressive. I would not keep them with another breeding pair because they can interfer with nest building. Other then that they are extremely friendly. They snuggle up with all the other birds and are not agressive at all!