looking for Gold/Orange Breasted waxbill people

[nopEda]

I'm looking for people who are interested in Gold Breasted waxbills to learn some things from and hopefully share some info about raising them. I've heard they are in danger of extinction, and also that they will be restricted from being imported into the US. I was wondering if there are people who would like to get birds if mine raise some young, and how to find them if there are. Where to find find other people who have a particular interest in this type of bird?

[finchmix22]

I believe there are several people on this forum who breed gold breasts. Where do you live so people near you will be able to respond better?

[nopEda]

I believe there are several people on this forum who breed gold breasts. Where do you live so people near you will be able to respond better?

I'm in the Atlanta GA area, but want to hear from anyone anywhere. The guy I got mine from got them from someone in NC or farther, and wasn't aware of anyone raising them around here.

[managermania]

I am in Atlanta and just got a pair this past weekend. I will be working on breeding them in the near future.

[Sally]

I see from Chase's post that they were available at the last mart in Norcross (at least I'm assuming that is where he purchased them). They really aren't in danger of extinction in U.S. aviculture, as they are fairly easy to breed. The imports will probably stop on all African species one of these days, but until they do, we need to keep breeding them to get the numbers up even more.

I bought my first pair in 2007, just before the CITES ban had been lifted on most African species, and I paid $175 for one pair, and was thrilled to find that one. Now you can find them for one-third that price or less. A broker on the West Coast tells of a time when he could sell Goldbreasts for $400-500 a pair, if he could find any.

So even if a species is not endangered in the U.S. at this time, there will come a day when you will be glad you worked with them. Mine have bred just fine in breeding cages, with no live food, but lots of fresh eggfood. They like the wicker hooded or tubular nests, line them with coco fiber, and like so many waxbills, they love white feathers for lining the nest. I've never done nest checks with mine, and I NFSS closed band the babies three days after they fledge with size A bands. They are so tiny that if you try to closed band them any earlier, the bands come flying off.

Good luck with them, they are delightful little birds. The only problem you may find with them is that because they are so tiny, they can escape out of any gaps in your cage. Mine do OK with 1/2" x 1" mesh.

This thread could be in the new Species subforums, under Amandavas.

[nopEda]

I am in Atlanta and just got a pair this past weekend. I will be working on breeding them in the near future.

That's when I got mine. Two pairs at the bird fair. The guy I got them from is from NC, and said he might not have any next time.

[nopEda]

Mine have bred just fine in breeding cages, with no live food, but lots of fresh eggfood. They like the wicker hooded or tubular nests, line them with coco fiber, and like so many waxbills, they love white feathers for lining the nest.

Thank you for the information! I ordered some closed nests today:

http://is.gd/SKZLKA

They show no interest in meal worms or crushed boiled egg. In fact I hardly see them eat anything. I haven't seen one eat from a feeder yet...only pick up bits off the "ground", and they eat some of the fresh greens. I'm still very new at this and don't know what to do.

The only problem you may find with them is that because they are so tiny, they can escape out of any gaps in your cage. Mine do OK with 1/2" x 1" mesh.

I have a fairly large cage and some branches spaced around the living room so they can come out sometimes. By now sometimes has become always and I removed two sides of the cage. I love having the birds fly around, and it makes it easy to keep an eye on what they are and aren't doing. Now I'm thinking about how to surround the nests with dried grass to help conceal them, and to keep the GBs from seeing when other birds are in that area so they don't become a problem by being aggressive.

[managermania]

I actually did not get my goldbreasts at the fair this weekend although I was at the fair. I did not get any of my birds this past weekend from folks at the fair per say. We traded and what not before the fair.

nopEda- That said, I am sure they are unrealted so we can possibly trade out in the future to get unrelated pairs. What area of Atlanta are you in and what other birds do you have or work with?

I feel we have a great group of people from the Forum here in the Atlanta area. I try and trade and work with the hobby breeders in the area. I have learned so much from all of them (I hate to name drop, but you know who you are)!

Sally- thanks for the info! They are tiny little things.

[managermania]

It takes time for some birds to get used to their surroundings. It took my Gouldian's almost a month to feel comfortable enough to fly to the the aviary floor. Others were so hesitant to go to my hanging feeder, but eventually did. I would have food and water in multiple places at the beginning so they have options. It's a new place and no telling how they were fed before you.

As far as nests go, I use fake vines and ivy and kind of circle the nest with it. The leaves will hang partially over the nest entrance and sometimes the birds will even try to pull them inside the nest or even closer over the hole. This is just something I do.

[finchmix22]

My goldbreasts like to stay at the top of the cage and rarely go to eat, compared to the other in the flight, but they prefer to eat off the ground and not the dishes, so I put clean paper towels over the bottom grate and change that daily as it gets dirty. That way, I can sprinkle some food on the paper towel and they are eating more like in a natural setting, off the ground. Good Luck.

[nopEda]

My goldbreasts like to stay at the top of the cage and rarely go to eat, compared to the other in the flight, but they prefer to eat off the ground and not the dishes, so I put clean paper towels over the bottom grate and change that daily as it gets dirty. That way, I can sprinkle some food on the paper towel and they are eating more like in a natural setting, off the ground. Good Luck.

Do you put the egg food on the paper towels too? Do you leave it out all day, or just give them what they will eat in a few minutes?

[nopEda]

I am sure they are unrealted so we can possibly trade out in the future to get unrelated pairs. What area of Atlanta are you in and what other birds do you have or work with?

I'm around Buford near Lake Lanier, and am just getting started with finches. I didn't know about the GBs, so got two pairs of societies and a pair of zebras to begin with. Gave the zebras back to the pet shop, and gave one of the female societies away. Got two pairs of GBs which I hope to concentrate on because they are so small and beautiful. I desperately wanted a situation like I've got with hummingbirds when I was a kid, and the GBs seem about as close as you can get. Two male firefinches and two male white societies that were supposed to be a pair. Got the firefinches, GBs and white societies all from the same guy at the bird fair. Will give one of the white ones to a pet shop this evening to be rid of him because he's overly stupid and he can't fly. Let him go live in a small cage. If you ever want to drop by and maybe go for a boat ride send me an email at nopeda@bellsouth.net

(nopEda means no to people for the Extinction of domestic animals, groups like PeTA are pEda)

[managermania]

I have a big dish that I put the egg food in each day. I give it to them in the morning and then reomve it after they have had their way with it. Depending if there is breeding going on, I will do it again in the evening. I will also put a scoop of seed next to the egg food. Depending on which flight I put it in, I may also add greens and meal worms. I clean this dish each time I take it out and I can also run it through the dishwasher.

[finchmix22]

The paper towel is for their little claws; although, they spread the seed around on the paper towel and eat off of it too. I use stainless steel dishes (cat dishes from PetSmart) for eggfood so I can remove it when it is no longer edible and paper plates for seed/pellets and veggies. I do this twice a day during breeding season, sometimes three times a day depending on how much they eat. I also change out the water dishes 2-3 times a day during breeding and about twice a day non breeding season. I'll try to upload a picture that shows the cage with paper towels, but I'm not sure if it will work. If not, I'll take a new one and post it tomorrow so you can see what mean.

[finchmix22]

Here are some more pics of my Society's eating off the floor. These are the fledges and they ate what the adults dropped, off the paper towels. I have to change them daily. Also, here is a pic of the cat dish at PetSmart I use for eggfood so I can change and clean it easily while leaving the seed/pellets in the cage.