My New Purple Grenadiers

[Sally]

Anna, when I say I don't see the aggression in this species, that may be because mine are all in their own breeding cages, one pair to a cage. So I can't say how they would act with others in an aviary setting. Everything I read says they need lots of room when mixed with others, and most articles suggest that they have their own flight, even when using large planted aviaries.

Right now, I have my one single male in a flight cage with some BCCB males, and he is fine with them. There is a bit of aggression between the BCCBs, but I think that is because they can see the BCCB hens in a nearby cage. It is such a job trying to keep males from seeing females from seeing breeding pairs!

The young PG hen is in a flight cage with some BCCB hens, and she can see the other PG pairs, so now she is all antsy, and I will have to move the entire group to another area. Or, since she will be leaving before too long, I may just put her with a couple of BCCB hens and leave the rest of the group where they are. So much to do, so little time to do it!!

[MLaRue]

It would seem that mine are coming into breeding condition again??!! I just saw a hen in a nest this morning?

Your new pair looks awesome Sally!

Mine are fine with other birds it is with their own kind that all hell breaks loose - including the Violet Ears. They are always in my business, as in they will get within inches of me at any time, but they are very much the dominant of the two species.

[Sally]

Oh, glad yours are coming into breeding condition again. I'll pray for better results this time. My males in a triple stack setup will get right next to the bars, trying to see the pair they can hear in the next cage down.

With one pair, the male is plucking the hen's head, but she isn't in breeding condition yet, so I may have to separate them.

[annague]

You know what is interesting, Sally?? -- I have found another real positive to hand-raising a CB. (There's a little story behind it.)

I keep all my BCCB and RCCB males together when not breeding but they can see the females (across the way) in their own cage. So... my BCCB males would scold and scold and scold ( you know, those long scolding sessions where they just perch and scold forever) and chase each other relentlessly. Which is annoying for the other males although the CB's don't really hurt each other.

Then... I ended up hand raising a young male RCCB and when he matured he decided all that cussing and fussing business from the other CB's was NONSENSE! I think he grew up more passive since I raised him. He broke up several chases and now the others have learned that they have to deal with HIM if they want to start the scolding and chasing.

Beau Peep is his name (I call him Peeps) So... when Peeps reigns, Peach reigns!! Ahhhh...... quiet.

[Finchgirl]

Gorgeous! I am always happy to see the vibrant purples in these finches as well as lady gouldians! purple is my fav. color!

[MLaRue]

How is this new pair doing Sally?

[Sally]

I have all three pairs set up in the 40x20x20 stack cages, with the productive pair on top, then the new pair, then Greg's male with Chase's hen. The top pair are going out of breeding condition, and the other two pairs are not in, at least not the hens. The new male is building a nest, but his mate is not in condition. I'll have to keep an eye on them to make sure there is no aggression from these males. The baby hen is in a flight cage with BCCB and Strawberry hens, and the PG pairs can see her, so that is a distraction for them. I need to get her over to Atlanta, don't know when she will come into her first breeding season, but they need to bond anyway. Just think, this will be a young pair that can produce for quite a few seasons, both domestic, both closed banded--the begining of a dynasty!

[L in Ontario]

Sounds like a match made in heaven... birdy heaven.

[MLaRue]

I have all three pairs set up in the 40x20x20 stack cages, with the productive pair on top, then the new pair, then Greg's male with Chase's hen. The top pair are going out of breeding condition, and the other two pairs are not in, at least not the hens. The new male is building a nest, but his mate is not in condition. I'll have to keep an eye on them to make sure there is no aggression from these males. The baby hen is in a flight cage with BCCB and Strawberry hens, and the PG pairs can see her, so that is a distraction for them. I need to get her over to Atlanta, don't know when she will come into her first breeding season, but they need to bond anyway. Just think, this will be a young pair that can produce for quite a few seasons, both domestic, both closed banded--the begining of a dynasty!

I think it is uber cool about our children! And, to think I have a male and you have the female - it was like it was just meant to be

Since my bird house is still sooooooooooooooooooo HOT the Grens are molting right now - the poor hens look like rag dolls they are molting so bad! I'm going to try the BRU softfood with the Grens and VE's this time - perhaps it will help with their need for specific proteins that the mealworms are lacking. Mine do love their chitted seed - well for the most part they do - they prefer the eggfood or birdie bread so I might just sprinkle it on those instead of the chitted seed for them. I can't feed any eggfood right now due to the weather but I can feed the birdie bread.

I hope I get better results from mine this breeding season - and hoping they aren't too old for any real success.