Purple Grenadiers

[CandoAviary]

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[cjkrit]

I bought 2 pairs in Sep 2009- both pairs ringed with the closed plastic rings - kept the one pair in a confined area and the other pair in the large aviary. The pair in the smaller partition went to nest within 6 weeks and I had 3 very beautiful and healty babies. After 2 weeks out of the nest the parents went back and left the first 3 all on their own- they died within 2 days- I was too late to notice what was happening. The subsequent nest was not successful. I then took them out also into the large aviary. Big was my surprize about 3 weeks ago to see that there are 3 pairs of PG now in the aviary- I had no idea they were breeding and also where their nest was.
Absolute fantastic finches to keep.

Greetings from a warm South Africa

[CandoAviary]

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[MLaRue]

I bought 2 pairs in Sep 2009- both pairs ringed with the closed plastic rings - kept the one pair in a confined area and the other pair in the large aviary. The pair in the smaller partition went to nest within 6 weeks and I had 3 very beautiful and healty babies. After 2 weeks out of the nest the parents went back and left the first 3 all on their own- they died within 2 days- I was too late to notice what was happening. The subsequent nest was not successful. I then took them out also into the large aviary. Big was my surprize about 3 weeks ago to see that there were 3 pairs of PG now in the aviary- I had no idea they were breeding and also where their nest was.
Absolute fantastic finches to keep.

Greetings from a warm South Africa

Congrats! I'm happy to hear you like them so much too! They are a wonderful species to keep. The calmest of all Waxbills in my opinion - right up there with the Gouldians.

[MLaRue]

OK - so I went reading yesterday and Sally and others I have bad news.

It would seem that (MOST) all Waxbills have a sub species including the Violet Ears. The Blue Caps and so many others do - so it is not just Grenadiers at all it is really all of them. Some have only two and others have 5 plus - one had like 10 plus. So it would seem that our Waxbills will always be a big melting pot of whatever we have available to us.

[CandoAviary]

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[JohnBoy]

She sticks to Texas and Louisiana.

I see her in Mobile, Alabama

oops!

[MLaRue]

I am much more of a “doer” than a follower. I too am an avid reader but what I read and what I practice from what I read are two entirely different things. Bird husbandry is not an exact science – just because someone else says it works for them doesn’t mean it will ever work for you. Getting your feet wet is much more desirable than professing to be well read. JMO

This whole talk of educating others on sub species seems benign to me simply because we don’t have the ability to pick and choose our stock. What is imported into the US is what it will be and if there are multiple sub species within the imports and only a few to work with – to me the answer is clear.

In my opinion it is breeders stepping foot in new territory and giving nothing but time and space to species that would otherwise end up in general demise that are pioneers of our bird husbandry. Owning and breeding the top three species (we all know what they are) seems futile. And, you won’t find another person that loves all three of those species more than me. But I want to be part of something bigger and that is helping keep these Waxbills in our aviaries because without them seems unfathomable.

Perhaps Candace you could write something for NFSS since you seem so knowledgeable on the Grenadiers. Or even Fardad since he has many years of experience with the very unique and unpopular Waxbills – his expertise is of the highest caliber. For me I’m still a student in my own aviary and will remain an avid student until I successfully have them raising their own.

[CandoAviary]

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[MLaRue]

This whole talk of educating others on sub species seems benign to me simply because we don’t have the ability to pick and choose our stock. What is imported into the US is what it will be and if there are multiple sub species within the imports and only a few to work with – to me the answer is clear.

Of course if what they have are not crossed already.

I wonder if they have many different subspecies in Canada?

How would you know either way if one was crossed? It is hard enough to tell the male sub species apart now and if one was crossed how would I or anyone know for sure?

[MLaRue]

Another thought that comes to mind is that usually when buying Grens from brokers they are all plucked to hell - look ratty and just awful. So missing feathers would make this even more challenging.

[CandoAviary]

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[CandoAviary]

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[CandoAviary]

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[MLaRue]

Well for 2009 even the NFSS Census looks grim

http://www.nfss-fss.org/Census/CensusReport.aspx

Go all the way to the bottom to see the Grenadier information and no you don't have to be a NFSS member. Of course that number could be very different now with more imports - or so we can hope.

Fardad those numbers are certainly optimistic but if the US doesn't have access to those birds at some point (new bloodlines) then only Canada will have them. Do the same breeders focusing on Grens doing Violet Ears too?