FINCHforum

We were thinking of maybe getting a pair of Sea Green Parrot Finches. I read on one web site that they do not have a long breeding life and they breed best between 12-18 months. Is this true? Seems like a short time.

a_gouldian

PF's, do seem to have a shorter (I almost said shelf life , lol) breeding window for some reason.

My fella (Red Throated boy), tried his darnest to breed with my three girls, to no avail (and I mean HE TRIED and TRIED ) untill I finally had to separate him from the ladies. He wore them right out, but no results.

I have a pair of these. The guy I got them from told me that they will not breed unless they are in an aviary, and they shouldn't be in anything smaller than a flight cage. I keep mine in the A & E double flight cage, and even that isn't enough room - my male is a chubby little butterball! But I just love watching them, they are curious and adventurous and have great little personalities.

I don't know about a shelf life with these guys. My old man bred until the age of 5/6 and lived many more after that as a retired bachelor that kept the older retired hens company (surprised me once with a baby produced secretly in their old age). You just never know.Basically their life span was that of any other finch, their breeding too. Most finches are most prolific in their first 3 years.

I think the trick is to get a good bonded breeding pair and the right nests. Many like to select their own mates and then produce well.
I think they preform better in aviary and to be honest they need the space to work off their chubby over-eating tendencies. If they are caged they will need plenty of good exercise, but they do breed in cages in the right conditions. Its not a bird you must breed exclusively in aviary.
Some people have all the luck with them. Others feel they fail dismally. IF it works for you then it does and you count yourself lucky.

It all boils down to providing the right environment for them, not overstocking pairs and getting good breeding stock to start with in my opinion.

RH-SG and BF parrot finches will breed for up 5 years. Sure the best years are 1-3 years old but they are still fertile into years 4 and 5.

Mine do best in a mixed aviary but also do fine in a 40"x20" cage. If cage breeding them give them a couple of nest and greenery wrapped around the cage along with a quiet area for some privacy. Cabinet style cages with an open front works the best.