Question for Chase re Cuban Finches

[L in Ontario]

That's quite impressive that you got 21 babies last year and 10 so far this year ...that leads me to ask HOW are you getting them to breed so well?

What is the cage size? I breed mine in a 30x18x18 and they do great until the eggs hatch. Then the male seems to toss the first one of each clutch. Things go smoothly then until they fledge and the male then has killed one chick upon fledging and/or harrassed male chicks after fledging. I was lucky to get 4 or 5 in a year. Do you remove the male when the eggs are about to hatch?

Any hints or tips would be VERY appreciated.

[lovemyfinch]

I will be watching this post very carefully, being as how I get my first pair in 2 months

[L in Ontario]

Off topic - Great Cdn Finch Meet in 74 days, 1 hour and 35 minutes

[lovemyfinch]

I can't wait.

[L in Ontario]

I can't wait.

Just remember Janine - this time we swap the hard goods FIRST then the birds and then a nice meal to relax over!

[lovemyfinch]

I can't wait.

Just remember Janine - this time we swap the hard goods FIRST then the birds and then a nice meal to relax over!

Ya figure

[dfcauley]

You guys are gonna have a blast!! Wish I could be there.

[L in Ontario]

You guys are gonna have a blast!! Wish I could be there.

You can - FLY in! You know we would absolutely LOVE to have anyone / EVERYone from the USA and across Canada join us!

This event is something Janine (lovemyfinch) and I started in May of 2010. She lives in Quebec and I live in Ontario; we wanted to meet each other after talking for so long on this forum. Since it is too far for each of us (about 7 hours driving each way), we thought we should meet in the middle somewhere. Kingston, Ontario is the middle ground and we did meet and traded birds and all kinds of gardens plants and goodies then. Well once a year just wasn't enough so we met again in October 2010. And the time has come to meet again. We had such a good time we thought we would open it up to ANYONE who wants to meet and chat about birds... The people in the USA do this more often as they have birdmarts/fairs all the time in the south. We don't have many birdmarts and certainly not in Kingston but we sure want to meet as many of our Finch Forum Friends as possible! If anyone happens to be in this area in May (probably May 22nd) we'd absolutely LOVE to have you join us. I believe so far IKHOM (Igor) and KIKO (Lynne), both of Ottawa will be joining us this spring! I think the date is flexible at this early stage, so if you can possibly join - please let us know!!

[lovemyfinch]

Yes please, the more the merrier
This date was optimally chosen for the long weekend. But could be flexible if necessary to have mroe members meet up.
Hey Donna, hop a flight with Sally and Misty and I'll even bring a home baked Quebec sugar pie

[dfcauley]

Yes please, the more the merrier
This date was optimally chosen for the long weekend. But could be flexible if necessary to have mroe members meet up.
Hey Donna, hop a flight with Sally and Misty and I'll even bring a home baked Quebec sugar pie

Let me win that lottery and I will be right there!!

My sister gets to go to Canada all the time on travels with her husband's job. I am always so jealous of her.....

[cute finch boy]

i copied from my last post! sorry lol!

i breed mine in 2 sizes of cages....

either 36 longx 18 tall x 12 deep

or 24 longx 24 tall x 12 deep

i put fake leaves from a ficus tree and/or ivy inside the cage to make it hommy for them!

i use the outside mount canary nest (will attach pic) with the door removed hanging inside the cage...

normaly i fill it with hay and then give them coco fiber to weave with....

they get a nice finch mix...

and then EGGFOOD daily.... i use my own version of the green day diet...

i have never had to use LIVE with the cubans...

as far as the pairing goes... i normally pair them young... and have ZERO aggression problems

when i have to pair older birds... i normally do it when i can keep an eye on them... and have NO NEST OR MATERIAL available until im sure they are getting along good!

if i see excessive chasing and plucking then i will seperate and try again later...

i have had HENS that are just as mean if not meaner than males before... so watch both!!!

last year i had 3 pairs working.... this year i have 7....


as for your male tossing.... i have never had this problem.... maybe try pulling him once the eggs are laid...

also are you feeding eggfood daily?

i forgot to add to the above that i band ALL mine with the NFSS size "A" bands at just a week old... and my pairs do not mind me doing nest checks at all.... im pretty nosy! lol

hope this helps a little at least!~

[L in Ontario]

Thanks Chase, there are several points on there that I will use here!

I do give them eggfood everyday with minced veggies (like the GD Diet) and once I 'think' eggs have hatched, I include freeze-dried bloodworms - never any live food for the Cubans. I now put the divider in the cage when I 'think' the eggs are about to hatch. I never look (I can't as they built their own nest (on top of a hooded wicker nest) and the entrance facing the back of the cage (which I can't get to)).

I'll be getting another hen soon from Fardad (of this forum) to pair up with my young male. I'll then have two breeding pairs.

Thanks again for the detailed info! Mine are breeding well in a 30x18x18 other than the male getting nasty now and then. He is never aggressive to the hen.

[cute finch boy]

your very welcome!

sometimes they can be pesky lil buggers! but i still LOVE THEM!

becareful with that wicker nest! i have lost more cubans than anything else!

[L in Ontario]

I'd like to take it out but their nest is right on top and will crash if/when I remove it - they rarely ever go in and the chicks never have (that I've ever seen).

I'll take it out after this clutch and rearrange the greenery inside so they can rebuild with proper support underneath again. They build agreat nest very durable and sturdy!

[cute finch boy]

the biggest problem i have with the cubans is when the damn chicks try and fledge early!

i have lil plucked chickens in a cage now the REFUSE to stay in the nest!!!!!!!!! their younger sibbling followed them and died in the seed bowl! i put them all back a many of times... and yet they still hop out!

damn rascals!