Fire or Strawberry Finch??

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:19 pm

Which type to get is the question. I can get a pair of either one - but which would be better? I thing the Strawberry male changes plumage when in breeding and out; whereas the Fire Finch stays the same year round - is that right?

I know the Strawberries are getting rare so if one dies, I may have a hard time replacing it.

Are there pro's and con's about each type? How do they compare to Gouldians in breeding, song (volume), food, cage size, leg banding size? Are they hard to breed? Will Societies accept either type of babies?

Anyone have thoughts or experience to share?

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:21 pm

Get the Strawberries!!!!!

franny · Post by **franny** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:24 pm

Both are very hard to find here in BC. You'd have a market for either here, if you could get them to breed. And you'd have the same problem finding a mate if you lose one.

I love the look of the fire finch, but haven't heard it's song, since I've only seen them once in all the years I've been cruising the pet stores here and on the Island. In a noisy pet store I couldn't hear what they sounded like.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:26 pm

dfcauley wrote:Get the Strawberries!!!!!

Don't hold back Donna - tell me how you really feel!

Okay, yes maybe Strawberries - but the male doesn't stay that glorious red colour all year long. I think the Fire Finch male does... So go ahead tell me WHY I should get a pair of Strawberries over the Fire Finches.

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 2:52 pm

I've only seen pictures of Strawberries and personally, they didn't do too much for me but I've seen the red fire finch in person and they are adorable!!!! I don't know if they have a nice song but odviously the strawberry does. If I'm able to get another cage, I am very tempted to get a pair of Fire finches.

Good luck with your decision.

Renee

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 3:46 pm

I absolutely LOVE to hear mine sing. When he is singing I can hear him from my sunroom all the way to my bedroom above all the others. And to me it is a beautiful song.

I don't have a fire finch, but I have seen them many times at the bird mart. Aren't they about the same size as a goldbreast?

The strawberry finches are so peacful and I think they are pretty. I haven't seen my male in his plumage yet. I keep hoping since now that he has a "girl" it will happen soon.

Why not go ahead... give yourself a Christmas present early and get both.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 4:25 pm

I think Donna is right get both you will wish you had latter

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:42 pm

If I may ask, where are you getting them from? ie, if I, in Ottawa, wanted a pair of Strawberries next year, would I be able to get them from the same place? Or are you going to breed some...?????

Post by **Sally** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 7:53 pm

I would have to choose Strawberries, if I could have just one. The male's song is wonderful! It is not soft like the Gouldians, but sweet and pure, you will know it when he sings!

To compare to Gouldians, both are harder to breed, with the Fire finch being easier than the Strawberry, in my experience anyway. All of the waxbills are harder to breed. I never hear my Fire finch sing, but then when you have 80-100 birds in a 12x14 room, it is a din! My Strawberry's song rises above the din, and it is just beautiful. They can use the same size cage as the Gouldians, but babies are so tiny, they can slip thru the bars of most cages. Societies may or may not accept babies, as the babies are so much smaller. Leg band sizes are much smaller than Gouldians.

As far as diet, mine all eat the same as the Gouldians, though less picky. The Fire finches like to spend more time on the ground, or bottom of the cage. The male Fire finch stays red all year round, while the Strawberry is only red when he is in breeding plumage, so at least half the year, he is going to look just like the hen.

I've just developed such a love for my Strawberries that I may be prejudiced, but my males sing all day long. I've heard others say that theirs start singing early, like 5:30am, but mine don't sing till the lights come on.

Yes, you might think about getting both, if you have the room.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:15 pm

Okay okay I think you've all twisted my arm ... I have told this guy I will take a pair of EACH! Thanks for the moral support!! I have the room - that's not a problem but I will have to get more breeding cages... soon! It is a petshop where I typically get my finch seed from and I've previously gotten birds from him - I know they are good stock and I like his prices. He doesn't gouge his customers like the big chain petstores do. At least I hope I'm getting these are a decent price.

(Lynn - I starting talking to this guy today about getting some Javas and he told me he just sold them all (45!) to a place in Montreal 2 weeks ago. So we were discussing what other finches I'd like to try and I was telling him I wanted something colourful and not overly difficult to take care of. I asked him what he had and I stoped him when he got to Fire Finches and Strawberries. He went on about how Strawberries are getting so rare now and he only has the one pair and that Fire Finches he can order anytime at all. So I don't honestly know if he will have any when you are ready but if you tell me I will ask him at that time. Also, yes, I will definitely be attempting to breed the Strawberries and Fire Finches myself.)

So tell me would a cage with 3/8" bar spacing be okay? Please say: Yes! I don't think I've ever heard of a cage with spacing smaller than that. I can appreciate that the "babies" would be able to slip through the bars of say 1/2" spacing but would a Fire Finch or Strawberry FLEDGLING be able to slip through? Perhaps in the centre of the cage where the divider is put in? I could cover that slot somehow.

Are there any other issues I should be concerned with? Health or diet wise? He said the Strawberries are imports (possibly wild caught) and he believes they are at most 1-1/2 years old - the male is just starting to get some red in his plumage. Thanks for all the valuable tips and hints re breeding, song, colouring, etc!!!!!

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:28 pm

Hoorah! New birds! Can't wait to see a picture of them.

Your gonna LOVE the singing of that strawberry!

I have had my male since June. He has not colored up yet. I am waiting......

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 8:30 pm

Thanks Donna! I was posting a response to your other posting when you were posting your response here.

Kiko · Post by **Kiko** » Wed Dec 03, 2008 11:38 pm

Just throwing this in there...since I was considering adding strawberries to my flight cage. Finchniche says Gouldians and strawberrys are incompatible. FinchInfo says Gouldians and Strawberrys are both tier 1, passive, but strawberrys should be kept separate if being bred.
NetPets says Fire finch, gold breast and strawberrys shouldn't be housed together...

I'm figuring if I want a flight cage with 5-6 birds (non breeding) I should perhaps not put strawberrys in?

Post by **Hilary** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:17 am

Hmm. I have a male strawberry in a large cage with my "old hag" gouldian girls, and have never had any problems. I'd imagine that almost any type of bird would need privacy to breed, though. I also have two cages with a pair of goldbreasts and a pair of firefinches in each (I think Sally does also?), and have had the firefinches successfully breed.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:51 am

I don't know if mine will breed or not, but there seems to be no problems in the aviary. All is peace.

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Fire or Strawberry Finch??

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