FINCHforum

Hello all,

I'm new to this Forum and also to Chestnut Breasted Finches - I have had 4 for more than 6 Months, and I haven't heard any of them sing. They have built nests but not gone any further, so I am thinking I have been unlucky and scored 4 females. I have heard a clip on the Web of a male singing and I agree with some posters I have read on this Forum that they sound a bit like canaries.

Is it true they can be very quiet when singing? I spoke to a local breeder who said they can sing very quietly, but that doesn't sound right to me.

My setup is; I have an 18 feet by 9 feet avairy that is well planted with trees and grass with rocks etc, and I have 2 pairs of Gouldians, 2 pairs of Chestnuts, 4 pairs of Double Bars and one pair of Painted Firetails (newly introduced). The Painted Firetails have started building a nest and everyone else has bred so it is only my Chestnuts having problems.

Cheers, Mark.

I dont know anything about Chestnut Breasted finches. So can't help you there. But I'm sure someone else here might know...Would love to see some pictures of your flock.

Mark
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have a great set up! What a large aviary. Please post some pics. As far as the chestnut breasted finches, many finches do not sing when they are with their mate, except for breeding season. I'm not sure about your particular species. Also, if they are young, they may not be mature enough to try singing or for the ol' hormones to kick in and get those boys a callin'. Keep us posted.

I have a pair of chestnut breasted. Aren't they beautiful? I just love their colors.
As far as singing.... I am sorry to say that I do not enjoy their son. To me it sounds like a squeaky wheel and it goes on over and over. My males sings alot and it isn't that pleasant to me. But... if your's are building nest that is great!!! I had no success in even getting that far. My male was willing, but no the hen.

finchmix22 wrote:Mark
Welcome to the forum! Sounds like you have a great set up! What a large aviary. Please post some pics. As far as the chestnut breasted finches, many finches do not sing when they are with their mate, except for breeding season. I'm not sure about your particular species. Also, if they are young, they may not be mature enough to try singing or for the ol' hormones to kick in and get those boys a callin'. Keep us posted.

Amazingly enough today I watched as one of them built a nest in some of the long grass, and then I caught him (it must be a him!) doing a display in front of one of the others. I watched them a bit longer, and when he went back to his nest the other one followed. Sounds promising! It is amazing watching them splice the grass and weave it together.

Here are some pics of my avairy. I built it from steel piping, and it has a timber frame roof with a clear perspex top so the entire avairy gets natural light. The north and south walls are enclosed in plastic to keep out the wind. Also where I live (north of Sydney in NSW Australia), so the weather is mild enough that I can keep the sides open Year round. The floor is sand and I have extended and buried the wire walls so the mice can't get in.

summert85 wrote:I dont know anything about Chestnut Breasted finches. So can't help you there. But I'm sure someone else here might know...Would love to see some pictures of your flock.

Here's some more pics. The grass and trees have grown a fair bit since I took these and I have had to cut it back to leave a path in the middle.

summert85 wrote:I dont know anything about Chestnut Breasted finches. So can't help you there. But I'm sure someone else here might know...Would love to see some pictures of your flock.

Some more of my avairy. I'll take some new ones soon.

Great pictures & a very nice aviary!! Thank you for sharing.

What a wonderful aviary!.....It looks great all natural!...Obviously your like it enough to build nests and raise their young!

Beautiful!! How do you catch a bird in there???

dfcauley wrote:Beautiful!! How do you catch a bird in there???

Haha, not easy! My wife normally helps, so we use two nets, one at each end. Sometimes it can be difficult flushing the Quail out of the 'bush' too because they are smart enough to sit and not move when you are after them!