What about Black Bellied Firefinches?

lovemyfinch · Post by **lovemyfinch** » Tue May 31, 2011 12:48 pm

What a beautiful sight to see

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue May 31, 2011 4:51 pm

Anna
What do you feed your FF?
I feed mine seeds and hardboiled egg. I am really trying to avoid live food.

Mist
I was at PetSmart looking at the woven wicker nests.
I was looking for the small size, but then looked at the large size, remembering how snug the small one was for 4 zebra nestlings. I thought the large size was too large, but when I compare it to the size of the FF, it seems like it would be OK. My FF are approx the same size as my societies.

They have an ABBA nest box that they ignored for months, so I'm looking for alternatives.

Post by **Sally** » Tue May 31, 2011 5:28 pm

Anna, wonderful news--congrats!! Another difficult species being bred--we need more of these Fire finches, and I love the Black-bellied.

Gary, I don't think it matters if the nest is a bit large, they will fill it with coco fiber to suit them. My waxbills fill larger nests, then leave a small hole at the opening for entry, and then they often place a white feather across the opening so they block your view.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue May 31, 2011 5:32 pm

Sally
I have seen mention of a "white feather" in several threads.
What is the significance of a WHITE feather vs any other color feather?

Post by **Sally** » Tue May 31, 2011 7:44 pm

Actually, Gary, any feather seems to work, though mine seem to prefer the white feathers, and that is what I had read about with waxbills. Mine have used dark feathers as well, I think the most important thing is that they want the softness for the lining of their nests.

However, I prefer white feathers.

The first pillow I got from Target was nothing but white feathers and down. The second pillow I got has dark feathers mixed in with the white. I have been fooled looking into a nest and seeing a dark something, thinking I have hatchlings, and it turned out to be a dark feather! I have also had the heart-wrenching sensation of seeing a dark shape lying on the floor of the cage, thinking it is a dead tossling, only to turn out to be another dark feather! So I will pick out all the dark feathers from white and throw the dark away.

I don't need the aggravation.

annague · Post by **annague** » Tue May 31, 2011 9:58 pm

Gary, I haven't offered mine live food -- I'm trying to avoid live food since all my finches are inside -- plus, the expense and trouble of handling it.

I feed eggfood (grated hard-boiled egg with Miracle Meal, nut meal, extra vitamins at times) and veggies. Seed of course, a good mineral mix, etc. Just a normal finch diet.

Sally, thank you. I can't touch the experience you and some of the others have here. I honestly think that the key to my success with the Blackbellies is the environment they live in. My Blackbellies nest is on a large branch that is one of the main perches in my aviary and obviously readily accessible to all the other finches and yet the Blk Belly babies are totally unmolested by the other birds -- who have kept a respectful distance although they sometimes check on the young ones curiously from a short ways away. The parents don't even hover close by any more although they keep an eye on the babies and feed them regularly.

I think the Blackbellies feel securely 'anonymous' with the other birds around them and the other little fire finches (4 Senegals and 1 Blue Bill) provide a sort of support system for all the 'ground' birds and Fires.

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue May 31, 2011 10:42 pm

Sally
Now I know what to do with all the feathers that I find on the floor of the room...save them for the fire finches.

Anna
Good to know about the egg. I would not breed them if I had to give them live food.

annague · Post by **annague** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:11 pm

Let us know how they do!

ac12 · Post by **ac12** » Tue May 31, 2011 11:44 pm

I going to the pet store tomorrow to pick up a woven wicker nest.
Fingers crossed.

annague · Post by **annague** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:58 pm

Well.... I heard my Blackbelly pair fussing constantly when I came down the stairs this morning and was shocked to see 2 tiny Blackbelly Finches had fledged.

They don't even have feathers on their bellies all the way yet. The 3rd baby stayed in the nest but fledged later today.

I have enclosed pictures.

The babies are currently on the bottom of the aviary -- I have a heat lamp on them and Mom and Dad are continuing their care. They have been exemplary parents -- I am so pleased with them.

L in Ontario · Post by **L in Ontario** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 8:23 pm

Congratulations!

MLaRue · Post by **MLaRue** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:28 pm

They still need to "cook" some more and need to get their precious booties right back into that nest!!!

Congrats that is awesome!

G8love4finches · Post by **G8love4finches** » Thu Jun 02, 2011 9:47 pm

They look like my little Strawberries when they fledged!....They are adorable!.....Just need a few more feathers!! LOL

monotwine · Post by **monotwine** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 1:54 am

What a gorgeous sight to see. Very cute.

Post by **Sally** » Fri Jun 03, 2011 8:29 am

Adorable! I didn't think there was anything cuter than a BCCB fledgling, but these guys are right up there with them, they look shell-shocked! I agree with Misty, they haven't finished 'cooking'--I've had a few BCCBs do the same thing, leave the nest before they are even fully feathered. Congrats on three beautiful fledglings!!!

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