FINCHforum

anyone ever bred chestnut breasted mannikins,if so how do they go,and are gold breasted waxbills ok with gouldians, societys,and painteds
gbw are very nice seen a pair yesterday really thinking of getting them, might not get the stars,ive bred them before so looking for something new ,and goulds ive never had also painteds and gbw never had them, the zebras are due to hatch in 4 days, would like some information on chestuts please!!!!!!

I breed CBMs they prefer their own cage and privacy(Box cage)
Paul.

Sure A good looking pair of finches

I used to have colony of chestnuts and they were the most prolific breeders in my old aviary (10m x 8m) that contained about 10 other species as well.
They are hardy, easy to cater for and will mix in well with other species, though young fledglings have a tendancy to climb into any nest they want regardless of the occupants. I wouldn't mix them with societies because they will hybridize. The other species you mentioned will be fine.
They will breed in boxes or baskets and also build their own nest in brush attached to the walls. Give them seed, water and plenty of seeding grasses and they will breed well. They will eat live food, but i was getting good clutches (4-5) with just seeding grasses so it's not really a necessity.