African Firefinches

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:03 am

Hi Everyone,

I'm in the possession of a pair of these gorgious birds and like to breed with them. I was wondering someone can give me tips about them.
I keep the pair in an indoor aviary from 8 feet by 8 feet. The male is very aggressive towards the hen, but they seem to form a real pair. The male has pecked the hen on her head and neck.
A few days ago I saw them 'kissing' and the male is singing his loud whistle tones a lot.
Does anyone know what kind of nesting occasion they prefer?
Has anyone here has experience with breeding them?

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 9:00 am

Which type of firefinch do you have? I don't recall anyone posting about this species except for Jeannette. You might do a search of all her posts, she hasn't been here in quite sometime, so I don't know how she got along with her firefinches.

Try these links,

http://www.finchworld.com/Birds/Finch/W ... /index.htm

http://www.finchaviary.com/Birds/Firefi ... rtugal.pdf

There is really very little info on the net about them. Sorry.

bluefinch · Post by **bluefinch** » Sat Feb 24, 2007 11:54 pm

The lady I got my shaft tails from raised Senegal fire finches. She keeps and breeds them in a large planted flight. I believe she used either nest baskets or a wire mesh frame that the birds could build there nest in. I didn't talk to her too much about them as I was distracted by all the varieties of birds she had!

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:12 pm

Thank you for the info and links!
I guess I have to place more plants in the aviary, so all walls will be covered with it.
Maybe they feel too uncomfortable right now, they always hide in the ficus plants...
If anyone has more info for me, please respond!
The birds are the L. Rubricata, African Firefinch or Dark firefinch.

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 10:03 am

I've good news about the African Firefinches!
They started with building a nest in an Eucalyptus tree in the indoor aviary!
They use sheer and leaves for it in a nesting bowl. The sheer is difficult to use, so I hope they are able to make a nice nest, for this time being it just looks like a huge mount of sheer.

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Fri Mar 09, 2007 11:41 am

That's great news.

What is "sheer"?

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:14 pm

Yeah what's the word in English...
it's like the grass growing in the water.
Hopefully it's now clear what I mean

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sun Mar 11, 2007 4:25 pm

reeds or bull rushes?

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Mon Mar 12, 2007 12:55 pm

ah reeds, that's the correct word!
thanks Thalia

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Sun Mar 18, 2007 7:59 am

They have eggs, but I don't know how many. They started incubating by now. Hopefully I will be able to get some chicks from them.

JeannetteD · Post by **JeannetteD** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 2:48 pm

LMAO.. of all days to decide to sit down and see what's going on after about a year..

I still have my male firefinch, but the female got egg bound and didnt make it. I found another female firefinch, but this one is a senegal, and my other one is an african or Jameson's. They're bestest buddies now, but any eggs they've had have been infertile. I'm not sure I'd like them to breed anyway..

But when I had the blue billed pair before, they mated in a closed nest, and I made sure they had lots of eggfood, and mealies. Unfortunately, they tossed the babies, and that was their only clutch before the female died.

Good luck with yours and let me know if you have any success.. I'll try to peep in more than once a year..

Jeannette

tammieb · Post by **tammieb** » Thu Mar 22, 2007 8:17 pm

Welcome back Jeannette! I've been thinking this thread needs your input.

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Fri Mar 23, 2007 2:33 pm

Thanks for your information, Jeannette.
Sad to hear you lost your hen... Eggbound isn't a nice thing, I had it once with a too young Owlfinch. She made it though.
Your male looks like a Dark Firefinch (or African, how you want to call them)
I wouldn't provide them with mealies while having chicks. They will get too soon back in breeding condition and will abandon their chicks. But there could be hundreds of reasons for it though.
Next Friday or Saturday the eggs will hatch.
I'm planning to provide them with fruit flies, white musquito larves and artemia. But not everybody is in the possibility to feed these insects.
If people are interessed, I can post a recipe for breeding (or how do you call it) Fruitflies yourself. It's the best living food while having chicks in the opinion of many bird breeders.

Carmen · Post by **Carmen** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 10:57 am

Well, the eggs probably hatched today!!

Thalia · Post by **Thalia** » Sat Mar 31, 2007 12:19 pm

yay! Congrats! Can't wait to see pics of the chicks, I love babies! I hope mom and dad do a good job with them for you.