New black-crowned waxbills

[isobea]

KarenB - thanks for the picture of your birds. I know you are thinking yours look 'scraggly', but mine actually look worse. One dropped his three remaining tail feathers but by now they are growing back nicely. A second one dropped his old tail feathers two days ago, so I have high hopes for that one, too. the necks of all of my birds are plucked so they kind of look like vultures. But Birds Express had them on sale for $ 55 back then so I figured after the next molt (whenever that might be) they will be presentable again.
Every day I see one of my birds checking out different nests and sit in them for a while - but that's about it. Nighttime temperatures right now hover around 50 F which is not bad at all, but it will only get colder and I'm not sure I even want them to start breeding before spring. I would worry about the fledglings in the first few days if the weather should be cold and wet. That's how I once lost a young fire finch.
And BTW, I still haven't seen mine take a bath either.

Sally - will you be moving yours into an aviary or a different cage?

Roxanne - I have used these type of nests since 1989 and most of my birds took to them without any problems. For my bigger birds (canaries and European goldfinches) I attached the greenery to the outside of the wire to give them more space inside.

Iso

[lovezebs]

isobea
Hi Iso.
I've been following the info about your birdies and other's as well.
These guys are so pretty, I have to admit to being somewhat envious .

We just don't see them around here, ever. I didn't even know they existed until someone mentioned them and I looked them up. Maybe when you guys all have babies, you will send me a little boy and girl, to start a Canadian dynasty. LOL.

~Elana~

[saulosirds]

isobea

First off, welcome to the forum, I look forward to hearing of your experiences with waxbills over the last thirty years!

I keep Black Caps as well and have picked up a few things over the last year or so about them. They seem the e considered fairly easy to breed by the Brits but are not a very commonly kept bird over there at this time. The Brits I have talked to don't seem to have a ton to share about them just that they are fairly straight forward to breed and sex, both of which I tend to disagree with them on. The American s I have talked to about them contend that they do not breed well or at all in large flights or aviaries and are best kept in single pairs in smallish sized cages.

The birds I have are as follows: 6 unsexed birds in an 8'x6' flight with Fires, Cordons, and a few miscellaneous waxbills. The Cordons and Fires raised a good deal of chicks last season but there never seemed to be any interest by the Black Caps to do anything but eat, sleep and poop! They do bath for me but they are always the last to the dish and always the first to fly of if anything frightens them, which seems to be about anything! The single pair I have are kept in a 4'x2'x2' cabinet cage and are given a good bit of coverage with artificial plants. They have decided to build a nest right up front where I can see into the nest. I will try and post a picture of it if I get a chance and can remember how to do it.

I was told that they would be very shy and to provide them a good area to nest that would offer them lots of seclusion, guess they didn't get that memo!

Hope that helps some!

Rob

[KarenB]

I couldn't resist getting this photo. These two were just too cute.

[Sally]

isobea I don't have an aviary, so they'll be set up in cages. I'm debating whether to put all six of them in a 37x27 flight cage and see who pairs up, or just go ahead and put them in individual cages, one pair to a cage.

[isobea]

Rob - thanks for your feedback. Unfortunately I've only been keeping waxbills for the last five years (siskins, European goldfinches and canaries before that), so I don't know how much help I can be. How long have you had your bl.cr. waxbills? Has the single pair which built a nest started laying eggs?

KarenB -those two snuggled in their nest are adorable! Have they started laying eggs? None of mine have progressed to the nest-building stage yet...

Sally - you say you are considering putting yours into individual cages, one pair to a cage. Does that mean you have found a way to definitely sex them?

Iso

[KarenB]

isobea, No eggs yet, just cuteness.

[isobea]

KarenB - I copied your picture into my photo file (I hope you don't mind). I will print it out and tack it to the inside of my aviary. With hope it will motivate my guys

Iso

[Sally]

Sally - you say you are considering putting yours into individual cages, one pair to a cage. Does that mean you have found a way to definitely sex them?

Iso

Not for sure. A friend who is quite knowledgeable had looked at the two pairs I got when Texas Pride Aviary retired. He said those were true pairs. Then at Temple earlier this month, I showed the pair I had already had for some time (from another source). My friend said he believed those to be two males. Only time will tell.

[KarenB]

KarenB - I copied your picture into my photo file (I hope you don't mind). I will print it out and tack it to the inside of my aviary. With hope it will motivate my guys

Iso

LOL, I hope it works. Maybe try some Barry White?

[lovezebs]

isobea
And don't forget the candle light...... and some nice juicy mini mealworms in crystal containers, with some prime maggots to follow.... with fresh sprays of millet for desert.

~Elana~

[isobea]

KarenB and Elana - Ladies, you know how to create "The Mood". If your wonderful suggestions work, I will invite you to the christening party!!! The brand new fledglings shall wear colorful leg bands. I will let you know in advance so you can be color coordinated.
Iso

[KarenB]

[lovezebs]

isobea
Now you're talking. Do we get to pick the colour ring we like to take home with us??? ♡♥♡♥

~Elana~

[isobea]

I haven't had time to print out the picture, but I was in the aviary for a while today and noticed the same 'pair' inspect yet another nest. Are they some kind of royalty ('crowned' is in their name - hint, hint) that they should be this picky and undecided? It looks like you will have plenty of time to accumulate enough frequent flier miles before these kids are ready. And yes, you will get to pick the color of the rings.
Iso