Goldbreasted Waxbill

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:45 pm

Wow, I didn't realize how tiny they are. I was just visiting the birdstore and the owner had one they were holding for a customer. (So far hasn't picked it up, it's been 2 weeks!!

I thought the fire finches were tiny. I just read they are the smallest of all finches, he was very cute but very jumpy! LOL Anyway, he had some cute birds he got in. There was a really pretty blue gloster canary too, so cute. Ugh, I'm getting the itch!! LOL

I might be bringing some of my societies to them. They don't have anymore and they will be in a nice roomy cage and well taken care of. There just isn't much demand for them and I saw about 3 ads on craigslists and other lists in my area for sale. They are eating on their own and I already saw a little boy trying to sing today. I want to pull them before I won't be able to tell them apart from the parents.

Renee

franny · Post by **franny** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:07 pm

Yup, they're pretty tiny alright! I sure enjoy my pair. I hear everyone talk about how jumpy they are, but I guess either I'm getting used to it, or mine are pretty calm. The only time they really freak is if I go near them when I'm wearing yellow!

I had the same worries about identifying the parents when mine had their clutch last year. So I think I'm going to be banding the parents with split plastic bands. Then it only has to be done once...and no more worries. You might want to consider banding your adults. At least with societies the bands aren't so tiny. I'm going to need help to get them on my GBs!

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:16 pm

The only time they really freak is if I go near them when I'm wearing yellow!

LOL!! That's funny!! I'm sure they are used to you by now too and plus they have such a large beautiful cage maybe they don't feel as threatened and confined.

I hate when I see one bird at the stores. Today I saw a lot of single birds with no mates and it makes me sad. I wouldn't mind taking them to at least give them a better home but then I wonder if I'd be able to find them a mate. I guess eventually. Today I saw a lone goldbreast, my little firefinch male. A lone Java finch who was really cute too. If I owned a birdstore I wouldn't break up the pairs.

Renee

GOULDYGIRL · Post by **GOULDYGIRL** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:22 pm

I don't think I have the nerve yet to band them. I should have done the babies when they were still in the nest. I need to order some next time, but it sounds a bit scary

Renee

franny · Post by **franny** » Thu Feb 26, 2009 4:32 pm

I've never done it either, and I'm terrified!

I have someone willing to help, but these guys are so fragile with such tiny little legs, that we may just wimp out. I've ordered the bands, but will see how it goes when they come....

Post by **Hilary** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:15 pm

Only the first time is scary! And banding certainly makes things a lot easier

Finch Fry · Post by **Finch Fry** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 10:30 pm

Renee! I just picked up a pair of the GBs this past weekend. They really are the tiniest little things I have ever seen. They look like quarters with wings!!!

Just as Franny has said, mine are pretty chill. They just hang out and watch me. Sometimes i feel like i am the one in a cage cause they watch me run around in the mornings getting everything ready for them before I go to work. HAHAHa.

I am just making a guess here, but maybe because they are so small and unless you own them, you are seeing them in environments that are tiny or with lots of other birds... they are probably getting pushed around cause they are the smallest kids on the block. So i figure maybe they are so jumpy because of this. After you get them home and give them a warm, loving and private environment that is more suitable and less crowded, i think they chill out and are happy and act just like any other finch. Mine are caged with 2 stars and they are all buddies and my stars TOWER over them.

atarasi · Post by **atarasi** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:22 pm

I had a pair of these GB waxbills and they were very nervous and jumpy. I think it really depends on if they are wild caught or domestically bred in captivity.

B CAMP · Post by **B CAMP** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:43 pm

I got a pair in july and they go crazy every time i walk by the cage ,have a lot of plants and hiding places only have half of the front of cage open.I think they might have laid eggs but not realy sure,will know if I see more than two in the cage

franny · Post by **franny** » Wed Mar 04, 2009 11:43 pm

Hilary wrote:Only the first time is scary! And banding certainly makes things a lot easier

Well Hilary, I got the XF size (smallest size from the AACC) split plastic bands in the mail....and there is NO WAY those tiny little bands are going to be manipulated by these arthritic hands and put on those teeny tiny little legs that are smaller in diameter than a toothpick!

So even with someone willing to help, it's not going to happen.

So I guess it's really a good thing that I got that second cage after all. Because I'll have to put the juvies in there as soon as weaned, so I can keep them separate from Dick & Jane.

dfcauley · Post by **dfcauley** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 8:06 am

I love the little goldbreast. They are nervous little ones, but mine have calmed down alot. I think they are more comfortable in my aviary because they know they can go to the trees and hide from me.

They are coming out more often and don't fly away. I have had them for about a year now. They had one clutch for me, but haven't breed again. Hopefully they will decide to get busy this summer.

They are so very small. They can sure slip through cage bars easily. When I traded two of the babies, I had a time keeping them in the cage......

mickp · Post by **mickp** » Fri Mar 06, 2009 8:57 am

Renee if you are really nervous about putting leg rings on your birds for the first few times that you do it use the split ring. it is much easier to put on and can be put on a bird of any age. once you get accustomed to using split rings then you take the nest step

steph · Post by **steph** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 9:06 pm

dfcauley wrote: They are so very small. They can sure slip through cage bars easily. When I traded two of the babies, I had a time keeping them in the cage......

How small of a space can they fit through? I was thinking of getting a pair in the future to put with my red-throats. The hardware netting has 1/2" spacing, but there are spaces around the doors that are closer to 3/4".

franny · Post by **franny** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 10:40 pm

They could easily slip through a 3/4" space, unfortunately. You would have to try to narrow that gap I think.

Post by **Hilary** » Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:29 pm

I saw movement out of the corner of my eye the other day and found that one of my hens had slipped out of the standard 30x18x18 breeder cage. It's the first time she's slipped out, though, and she must have been pretty upset about something to work her way out between the bars.

Fran, I hear you about trying to get those tiny bands on them. I tried trimming my regular bands to make them smaller but that didn't work, so banded my GBs with the smallest I had. The birds looked at me, shook their legs and tossed them right off.....