Hi!
So in November, my family kind of spontaneously purchased an adorable pair of orange cheeked waxbills, who we named Romeo and Juliet. We already had a cage that was left over from when we upgraded our canary to a larger cage, so the two finches got that cage. It's the 30x18x18 prevue cage. So, the first question is, is the cage large enough? The finches don't get any time out of the cage because they're so tiny that we're scared to let them out, so is that cage large enough for them to spend their lifetime in?
Next question, do they need any added items in their cage? Their cage is pretty bare, with 2 perches and their water bowls and food bowls. Would they feel more comfortable if we added toys or decorations into there? Or would they just ignore the toys like my canary does?
Continuing, what about their food? We give them a plain canary seed mix, and we add in millet and other seeds. We also give them grass seed, and they absolutely adore it. Is this a good diet for them?
Thanks in advance for reading that long post:)
Questions about orange cheeked waxbills
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IsleofFlyingFinches
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Sally
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Re: Questions about orange cheeked waxbills
That size cage (30x18x18) would be the minimum for a pair of Orange-cheeked Waxbills. Even though they are tiny birds, they are very active, and so they need flying exercise. I'd add some artificial plants to the cage, like back in the corners maybe. Most finches love swings, and waxbills are no exception, so I would get them a small swing.
As far as diet, they really don't need a canary mix. A good basic finch mix is fine for them, and the grass seed is also fine as long as it doesn't have artificial fertilizers, etc. in it. Finches also do well with a mineral mix, such as oystershell/charcoal/eggshells. This provides them with the needed calcium.
If you are interested in breeding, then you will want to add egg food to their diet. Breeding birds need lots of protein. Even if you aren't interested in breeding, you should give them egg food at least as a treat, and most waxbills love a selection of veggies.
Welcome to the forum! You can find many articles on finch care and diet at www.finchinfo.com. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to answer questions later on.
As far as diet, they really don't need a canary mix. A good basic finch mix is fine for them, and the grass seed is also fine as long as it doesn't have artificial fertilizers, etc. in it. Finches also do well with a mineral mix, such as oystershell/charcoal/eggshells. This provides them with the needed calcium.
If you are interested in breeding, then you will want to add egg food to their diet. Breeding birds need lots of protein. Even if you aren't interested in breeding, you should give them egg food at least as a treat, and most waxbills love a selection of veggies.
Welcome to the forum! You can find many articles on finch care and diet at www.finchinfo.com. If you put your general location in your profile, it makes it easier for members to answer questions later on.