Combassou Finch - I have one!

[Brette]

So i made a bit of an emotional buy this weekend from a pet shop which I have never done before but a star finch and combassou had been languishing there for 7 months in a very cramped cage. I got a "deal" although i'm sure i paid too much for both of them. They are lovely little birds and settled into the aviary immediately with the gouldians and my 10 yr old zebra finch.

I've since read that the combassou is "extremely" aggressive but this hasn't been my experience with the one I have thus far. He doesn't have a mate though so maybe that's why he's behaving. I watched him for quite a while before I bought him and he was well behaved in the pet shop as well with the other birds.

Anyone know about their personalities? I can't find much online.

[L in Ontario]

I would have gotten a pair too but the price was too high here; so I can't offer any advise. Good for you for rescuing the pair! Best wishes for you and them!!

[cindy]

There was a thread about them not to long ago, they breeder I deal with had/has them. I believe he wanted $45.00 a bird.

http://finchforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=8 ... ssou+Finch

[Brette]

Yeah, I had actually posted a while back because when i saw them in the pet shop months back, I couldn't identify the combassou, but you all were able to of course.

But we didn't discuss personality much. I'm not really concerned, i don't think he will turn into the bird from hell overnight (although that would almost be funny given it's deep black plumage). But I wondered if people who breed them have seen extremely aggressive behaviour from them.

On an unrelated note, after adding the star finch and combassou, my gouldians look like giant birds.

Thanks for the link...will read!

[JohnBoy]

The Senagal Combassou or Indigo bird can be housed with waxbills. It is seldom aggressive toward other birds.They parasitize the fire finch to lay their eggs and rear their young. They have also been known in captivity to parasitize the cordon blue.

[Brette]

It is seldom aggressive toward other birds.

Oh excellent! I like having an aviary free of aggressive feather- plucking and chasing and I'd like to keep it that way.

Can't wait to see how these 2 little pet shop "rescues" blossom in the coming months with good food, room to fly and sunshine. Although I prefer to buy from breeders, i couldn't stand knowing they had been in a 12" x 12" cage for months on end. I really dislike pet shops.

[Meagan83]

Don't forget to post pics once they are settled in

[L in Ontario]

they had been in a 12" x 12" cage for months on end.

Wow! How awful!

[JohnBoy]

Also the Combassou male will go out of color and resemble the female. My experience in captivity is most stay in breeding plumage for around 9 months out of the year.

[lovemyfinch]

How wonderful of you to have saved these birds Brette. Where did you buy them if you don't mind?

[Domenic]

That's great that you took them out of there. I love combassous. Like JohnBoy said I don't think they are aggressive but it probably varies from bird to bird. I hope you enjoy him, I think you are the only member on this forum to have one right now.

[Brette]

I hope you enjoy him, I think you are the only member on this forum to have one right now.

So far he's been mild mannered and almost shy, but seems quite happy with the other finches. This morning he was nibbling on cous cous and vegies with the others.

I wonder why they're not more popular. I'm surprised i'm the only one here who has one. They're really striking with their white beaks and black irridescent plumage. I guess i can expect a big molt though sometime when his off season feathers come in.

[Domenic]

I think birds that change color seasonally are less attractive to people who want a beautiful bird year round. Also, breeding them is difficult because they are parasitic and lay their eggs in Senegal Firefinch nests. Plus they have a somewhat bad reputation of being aggressive, at least that's what the limited information on the internet says. But like you I find them really beautiful and I hope to obtain a pair too. I am actually fascinated by birds that change colors, it's almost like you have a new bird every on and off season.

[Leda]

Would like to see a picture. Black with white bill sounds very striking. How are they doing?

[FinchDegg]

pics pics .... intrigued