FINCHforum

took a chance yesterday and peeked into a nest that is very close to where I feed my birds. got a very pleasant surprise when I saw what looked to be 4 or 5 young goldbreasts staring back at me. they looked to be fully feathered and must be very close to fledging. will try and get a pic when the weather cools down (late next week I hope)

mickp wrote:took a chance yesterday and peeked into a nest that is very close to where I feed my birds. got a very pleasant surprise when I saw what looked to be 4 or 5 young goldbreasts staring back at me. they looked to be fully feathered and must be very close to fledging. will try and get a pic when the weather cools down (late next week I hope)

woo hoo! Congrats..... they are the sweetest and tiniest little things.

Congrats! Cage or aviary?

Wow - can't wait for the pics! Congratulations.

That is great news, I wish mine new how to do that

I just love the Goldbreasts! Are yours fairly calm, mick? Mine are in cages, and they are very hyper. The fledglings that are now weaned just freak when I go near the cage.

Sally wrote:I just love the Goldbreasts! Are yours fairly calm, mick? Mine are in cages, and they are very hyper. The fledglings that are now weaned just freak when I go near the cage.

Funny you mentioned that, Sally. My Gouldian fledglings that are fully weaned and in their own cage freak completely when I put food/water in their cages. Maybe they will calm down with age - their parents aren't nearly to hyper.

Hilary, they are aviary bred. I havent had to use a breeding cage for a few years now.
Sally, whenever I am in the aviary they keep well away. if I'm watching from outside they are amongst the first to disappear if I make a sudden movement. so yes they are flighty.
very funny to watch them nest though. the male chooses the site & builds 90% of the nest then the hen lines it with feathers.
any other bird that lands on the selected nest has a death wish though as the male will have a go at any bird who gets to close, doesnt seem to care that everyone else in the aviary is bigger than him either.

mickp wrote:Hilary, they are aviary bred. I havent had to use a breeding cage for a few years now.
Sally, whenever I am in the aviary they keep well away. if I'm watching from outside they are amongst the first to disappear if I make a sudden movement. so yes they are flighty.
very funny to watch them nest though. the male chooses the site & builds 90% of the nest then the hen lines it with feathers.
any other bird that lands on the selected nest has a death wish though as the male will have a go at any bird who gets to close, doesnt seem to care that everyone else in the aviary is bigger than him either.

This is what I observed with mine also. I have had them for over a year now. They are becoming more visible than they used to. They would always fly to the tree when I entered the aviary. Now they will stay out some, but as far away as possible. Mine built their own nest in the top of a tree and ignored all avaiable nest. The cock was not afraid of anybody. He didn't care how big the other finches were. I am finding the same thing with my strawberry finches that are sitting now. They don't know they are small. Kind of like my little five pound dog that will chase a german shepard.

I did provide lots of mealworms for my goldbreast when they had young.