FINCHforum

I took these tonight. This flight contains Silverbills and Magpie Mannikins. The mannikins are really neat birds. Personality plus! And they are great breeders. It is a shame they are not more popular. I highly recommend you check these birds out when you see them at the next fair.

Very nice!

Wow! I've never heard of the Magpie Mannikin. They look like a larger version of my Bronze-Winged Mannikins. Very pretty.

They are very pretty John

Great pictures John, the birds look great!

Beautiful! I like the Silverbills too!

Yours look full of antics. I used to have a pair in the mixed aviary, but they caused hassles with other waxbill breeding pairs. They seem like a good species to keep on their own in a community flock. Enjoy them. They are big birds, almost like Java.

monotwine wrote:Yours look full of antics. I used to have a pair in the mixed aviary, but they caused hassles with other waxbill breeding pairs. They seem like a good species to keep on their own in a community flock. Enjoy them. They are big birds, almost like Java.

Mine get along great with silverbills, other mannikins, javas, whydahs, green singers, seedeaters, cutthroats. I've had them with zebras and societies also with no problems. I would never have put them with the smaller waxbills. Even though they are peaceful birds (my experience) their size would scare the poo out of waxbills.

They are quite big and take some getting used to. I think I just got a cantankerous pair that were not a pleasure in a mixed community. Their breeder also said they were peaceful, though others I've spoken to experienced similar results to mine. Perhaps it’s just those that have been bred here are not yet as domesticated.

Enjoy yours.

Hello JohnBoy! I was wondering if you put this indoor flight together yourself. I have a couple large rolls of hardware cloth left over from building my chicken coop, and was thinking of putting together a large indoor flight myself. I would love to see a couple more pictures of what you have done to get some ideas. This cage looks to be cylindrical in shape?? Are those hot water heater pans on each side?
Thanks!
Taylor

Oshtay wrote:Hello JohnBoy! I was wondering if you put this indoor flight together yourself. I have a couple large rolls of hardware cloth left over from building my chicken coop, and was thinking of putting together a large indoor flight myself. I would love to see a couple more pictures of what you have done to get some ideas. This cage looks to be cylindrical in shape?? Are those hot water heater pans on each side?
Thanks!
Taylor

Yes those are hot water heater pans. And yes I make these cages. The ones on the cage shown are the aluminum ones. They also come in plastic which are half the price of the metal ones. It is 6 ft. long and 2 feet wide.
I originally made them to stand up but they are more practical laying on their side. I use camping tables to support them. $5 ea at WalMart.

you are so innovative!