green singing finches

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redfocks
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green singing finches

Post by redfocks » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:11 pm

I currently have two green singing finches - a male and a female. I've had them for a couple of months now, and have not heard one peep out of the male, though the female chirps pretty frequently. They have not mated or anything, and pretty much avoid their nest, except for to perch on top of it - so I don't think they've exactly "paired" up. The cage is about 18" by 24", and it's 24" tall.

I've found someone who has a male green singer on craigslist... I'd love to hear the male sing, but from what I've read, they won't really sing when there's a female present, and I don't want him to be by himself, so can anyone shed any light on wether or not it is recommended to keep more than one male in a cage?

Now I'd assume I can't just get another male and put him in with my current male and female, but perhaps i could rehome the female and just keep two males?

Thanks for any help :)

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Re: green singing finches

Post by BigBear0007 » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:12 pm

Redfocks,

Try separating them if you can and don't let the male see the hen, just hear her.
When he is singing let him see her.
Give the hen a nest in the mean time

Jerry

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cindy
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Re: green singing finches

Post by cindy » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:42 pm

I have a pair of green singers, kept together in the same cage for about 8 or more months...the male sings to the female when she is down eating, the male sits on a branch above her. I never separate them. The male seems to have certain times of the day when he sings, it is long at times. I did a video and posted it for the forum. I'll see if I can find it.

Your pair may need time to adjust or mature. Mine have just after all this time started hopping in and out of the nest and fussing with it. I also have mine in the front room where it is not a high traffic area. As I am writing this he is singing...it is much softer that some canaries. He will not sing if I am in the room.

..............................................................................

I found the thread...the second video listed is much better

http://www.finchforum.com/viewtopic.php ... gers+video

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Re: green singing finches

Post by redfocks » Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:47 am

BigBear0007 wrote:Redfocks,

Try separating them if you can and don't let the male see the hen, just hear her.
When he is singing let him see her.
Give the hen a nest in the mean time

Jerry

Thanks! I'm going to try this. How long should I keep them separated? When they are put back together will he stop singing again?

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Re: green singing finches

Post by cindy » Thu Apr 28, 2011 12:30 pm

Just a word of caution, they are a bit high strung...when I have had to catch my female, trim her nails then go to release her back into the cage...she lays frozen in my hand for a few moments. They seem to stress easily.

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L in Ontario
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Re: green singing finches

Post by L in Ontario » Fri Apr 29, 2011 8:35 am

cindy wrote:Just a word of caution, they are a bit high strung...when I have had to catch my female, trim her nails then go to release her back into the cage...she lays frozen in my hand for a few moments. They seem to stress easily.
A number of different finches will do that - Pintail Whydahs and Cuban Melodious to name just a couple.
Liz

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Re: green singing finches

Post by Nipper06 » Fri Apr 29, 2011 11:35 am

Green Singing Finches come from Africa where the seasons are reversed. Mine usually don't get interested in breeding until the end of summer / early Fall. In fact, mine hatched out young in December. Since many Green Singers were imported recently, yours may just not be in the mood to sing and breed right now - in their head, it might feel like the "wrong season". Be patient - give them the spring and summer off and they may surprise you in the fall. I think mine sing the most from mid-summer into the fall. Mine are totally quiet now. Also, there's no need to separate them - the males sing just fine in the same cage with the female, when it's the right time.

As someone else mentioned, your Green Singers may also start singing once they feel more relaxed. I have mine in a big cage in my sunroom where there isn't much human "traffic" - and they have the whole cage to themselves. Also their cage is up against a wall which makes them feel more secure. I now have even more plastic plants in the cage than in this photo (but they did breed with the cage like this). I also sometimes play a CD of jungle birds that makes all my finches active and chirpy. You might try that too.

I just re-read your post. Your cage sounds kind of small. They may never breed in a cage that small. You might want to consider moving up to a larger cage or aviary. Green Singers also do not mix well with other birds when breeding. They can either get aggressive with the other birds or simply not want to breed.

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p.s. I assume you are aware that Green Singers use an open canary-type nest? They do not use nest boxes. And it helps to shield the nest area with plastic plants. They also like fresh egg food and live meal worms at breeding time. Giving them these foods in late summer may stimulate them to breed. Also, put lots of nesting material (jute and coconut fiber) on the bottom of the cage at breeding time. Having that seems to stimulate them.

Green Singers LOVE green food so make sure you provide some to yours a few times a week. I buy "mixed greens" type salad mix for mine and they eat it right up! You can also give them clean washed dandelion leaves, if you are sure they have no weed killer or animal urine on them.
Ron

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Re: green singing finches

Post by L in Ontario » Fri Apr 29, 2011 12:55 pm

What Ron said about the cage size is worth noting. My pair bred quite successfully in a 30"w x 18" x 18" in an open canary nest with some fake plants in the cage.

Good luck.
Liz

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Re: green singing finches

Post by BigBear0007 » Fri Apr 29, 2011 9:09 pm

Thanks! I'm going to try this. How long should I keep them separated? When they are put back together will he stop singing again?


Keep them seperated till the male sings his head off and calls to her and she calls back.
If she does not call back, or rips paper or tries building a nest, then she isn't ready to breed.
Green singer are alot like canaries in personality, the males don' t have to have ahen with them till they are ready to breed.
I found the males will sing and live on his own very well till he needs to mate.
And you do want him to sing?
I found males will not sing if they are with their hen.

Jerry

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