Black and White Mannikins

[Sally]

This is the only halfway decent photo I could get of these guys for now, they are very active and don't want to sit still for a photo op. And they are in a temporary cage for the moment. I had not planned on getting any new birds yesterday , so I have to get a quarantine cage set up for them.

I have only had one Bronze-winged Mannikin once before, so my experience with mannikins is nil. I justified getting these guys by the fact that they are at least African in origin! And my friend that dragged me over to look at them even offered to pay half of their cost if I would get them, she felt that strongly that I needed to work with them (and she's a parrot person, for pete's sake! ).

So for those of you that have mannikin experience (Johnboy?), any advice will definitely be appreciated.

[CandoAviary]

How pretty, best of luck with your new species

[JohnBoy]

Love these birds. They are so neat. Literally. Always well groomed & peaceful with all it's aviary occupants. Also very hardy. I have 3 pair. The only breeding I have had with them is the one who paired with a spice finch and produced that gorgeous hybrid pictured in another post. I am hopeful that I will get results from a pair soon.
Sally you will love them.

[monotwine]

Oh they are lovely. I have no experience keeping them, but sure love how they look and their contrasting colours are just perfect.

Good luck with breeding them.
PS sounds like you have a great friend!

[cute finch boy]

i love the black and whites and the magpies!

hell i love all the birds! lol

but really the BW mannies are awesome!

you saw the one i showed last fall right? such a pretty lil hen!

photos do not do these birds justice at all... zero.... they are a MUST see!

lemme know when you raise some... we have yet another species to trade lol!

[cindy]

Congratulations...I've seen these in person and they are striking.

More pictures please especially if you have young!

[dfcauley]

Sally.... every time I go and Floyd has some I drool over them. They are beautiful! But I walk away every time because I have been told that they don't get along in a mixed aviary. Of course I heard that about cubans also and mine are a great pair.

Also.... Floyd is never able to sex them for me and I want to get a pair if I get some.....

Congrats!!!! Lucky you!!!

[kenny]

hi sally
i have never had these particular birds i have had white headed nuns and bronse wings like yourself,but they all are related to societies thats why they produce hybrids all the time.so that makes them all good natured because of thier relations with societies.one thing i noticed which may not happen to you ,is that bronse wings when they are mating or nest building can sometimes be agressive.plus with all mannakins watch out for the length of thier claws they gro pretty rapid and mine would sometimes get hung up on the wire of the aviary or nest material....apart from that they are wonderful birds to keep they need no special treatment and once they have settled they have a lovely song very much like the societies.you have made agood choice there good luck with them


ken

[L in Ontario]

Congrats on your newest additions. They sure look pretty!

[bugaboo5]

Congratulations! Beautiful birds. Good luck with them.

[Sally]

Thanks for the nice comments and the advice, everyone. On the way home, I was wondering what have I done, getting mannikins when I'm trying to concentrate on waxbills! But the more I hear and read, I am so glad I got this pair. Once they are out of quarantine, I will set them up for breeding and see what happens. No matter what, they are delightful birds to watch.

[cindy]

Actually my friend is giving me some extra 24x 18 cages...so I'll use those as baby cages when the clutches are small.

Bill go get those!!

[MLaRue]

Are these not the same birds that will dominate any other bird in their space? Or am I thinking of another bird?

[Jan]

I have them in a mixed flight with my waxbill's and they are getting along with everyone... They spend a lot of time preaning each other up on a ledge with two pairs of Swee's & the two baby Swee's..

[Sally]

Jan, these guys have settled right in and act very comfortable in their cage. I really love the way they look, and they seem to have such nice personalities, thanks for bringing these to the mart!