Pics of Riff & Raff

[Nipper06]

I also have some tame Java Sparrows. I don't think I had as easy a time as Geordie taming them, though I got better over time. I have been successful at having already tame ones "teach" untame ones to trust me. However, I've only ever had taming success with very young birds. For the average person, I'd say don't even try taming an adult Java.

I wrote this article on taming Java Sparrows: http://www.justjavas.co.uk/ronsjavas2.htm In it, I outline 2 methods - the first involves temporary wing-clipping which I hate but I based in on how I was taught by someone else (sort of like how you tame an uncooperative budgie). The second method, which is all I do now, involves having an already tame "decoy" Java Sparrow and no wing-clipping. But it sounds like you (Geordie) have an even better, less traumatic method. You should write it up in an article for people.

Still, I'll say this - I think some people will not be able to tame Java Sparrows because not everyone is good at taming birds. I'm pretty good at it but I think you (Geordie) are even better. But I've met people that couldn't even tame a Ringneck Dove and I had to conclude they were too aggressive and just didn't get it - they didn't seem to be aware that their movements were terrorizing their birds - like they couldn't "read" their birds emotions and see they were acting too aggressively. I have found that some of my friends scare my birds to death and they aren't doing anything overtly aggressive - just their movements are all wrong - they are not calm enough or something. Only a few of my friends are calm enought to have my Java Sparrows (and even my Ringneck Doves) approach them.

But I agree - Javas have great personalities once tame. They are pretty fearless and are alot of fun when flying around as a little flock. About 7 - 8 years ago, I had the 3 shown in the third photo. I used to let them fly on my screened porch outside in the summer. They were so tame that they'd ride on my arm through several rooms to go outside and then fly to my arm when I called them to come inside at night. They had a ball all day, playing on my porch and flitting among my "toxic" house plants (yes, they learned not to eat them - they must have taken nibbles and decided it made them sick - I gave them greens in a bowl and they learned to eat those only). Now I have a sunroom in my new house with more glass so I need to re-learn how to get them used to it without window crashes - for now, they just fly inside.

[B CAMP]

Very good article makes me want to get some javas,but I just don't have enough room at this time.You and Geordie are the only ones I heard of doing this,really sounds like fun with your javas

[Nipper06]

Finger-tamed Java Sparrows are quite common as pets in Japan. I think there, they tame them by bringing home nestlings from the breeder right before weaning and they finish their weaning process by hand-feeding them. The result is very tame birds.

Try going here to the Japanese Rice Bird website: http://www.annie.ne.jp/~linda/ Unless you speak Japanese, you won't understand of course by try clicking around on the hypertext - eventually you will find some photos of very tame "Rice Birds" (Java Sparrows).

Also, go to www.YouTube.com and do a search of "Java Sparrow" or "Rice Birds" and you will find some cool videos.

[Geordie]

Thats true Nipper, lots of Javas in Japan are tame through this method, making it much easier for the owners. Riff & Raff came from Taiwan and they were already weened by the time I got them (and according to the person I got them from in Japan they were kept in bad conditions) but luckily they were young at the time so it wasn't too hard to gain their confidence and finger tame them.

They are so funny when they are pottering around and looking for some new trouble to get into.

On youtube take a look at "Java Finch skateboard" and then click on some of the others from there

BTW: Riff & Raff are 1 year old this week...time flies...seems like only yesterday they were just little balls of dirty looking fluff, flying around and leaving jobbies on a suede sofa.

[vanjhnn]

Wow, wonderful, I just want to ask, at exactly what age can you pull out a Java Finch from its nest?

[Nipper06]

vanjhnn,

To be on the side of caution, I've always acquired my baby Javas right after they were self-feeding. I guess you could pull them earlier and hand-feed - that will definitely produce tame birds - but there's always a little extra risk of things going wrong with hand-feeding. In any case, the breeders I bought mine from always wanted me to wait until the babies were eating on their own.

The brown-ish Java on the left is a normal Gray Java Sparrow in juvenile plumage. Neither bird in these photos was ever wing-clipped - both are fully capable of flying away. They both tamed quickly as juveniles because I had another tame one to be a role model.

[vanjhnn]

vanjhnn,

To be on the side of caution, I've always acquired my baby Javas right after they were self-feeding. I guess you could pull them earlier and hand-feed - that will definitely produce tame birds - but there's always a little extra risk of things going wrong with hand-feeding. In any case, the breeders I bought mine from always wanted me to wait until the babies were eating on their own.

The brown-ish Java on the left is a normal Gray Java Sparrow in juvenile plumage. Neither bird in these photos was ever wing-clipped - both are fully capable of flying away. They both tamed quickly as juveniles because I had another tame one to be a role model.

thanks for the info, thats really good information there.

[jamezyboo21]

Do you think it would be okay to add a pair of java finches to a passive flight cage with, goulds, stars, bronze wings, and societies?

[vanjhnn]

Do you think it would be okay to add a pair of java finches to a passive flight cage with, goulds, stars, bronze wings, and societies?

It depends, do you think they all have a nice big space to fly around? It is always about space But if they do then they won't have any problem.

[jamezyboo21]

The flight cage i have is 5' long 3' tall and 2' wide. i have 8 goulds, 2 stars, 2 bronze wing and 2 societies already in it

[B CAMP]

Seems like your about at your limit for that flight now.

[Nipper06]

James,

That flight cage sounds pretty crowded already so I would be careful about adding any more birds - personally, I'd put no more than 6 birds in a cage that size - and Javas will be larger than all those other birds, and would be capable of doing some damage if they felt like it.

I'm not saying Javas would necessarily attack the smaller birds but they can be aggressive and pushy when they want to be. My Javas chase my Ringneck Doves around and have even landed on my dog a few times! Javas are not usually classed as birds for a "passive" collection.

If you insist on adding Javas, I'd have another cage ready nearby in case any problems happen. And I'd consider getting a few more cages so your birds would have more room.

I have slightly smaller 4 X 3 foot flight cages but I keep only 1 pair of birds in each! It's more expensive that way but I think it's way less stressful on the birds.

[Geordie]

jamezyboo21, I wouldn't attempt putting any Javas in that cage, as said, Javas are big but usually passive with enough space but putting them into a crowded space like that and you will be asking for problems, they will use their size to dominate.

Answer to another question, Javas can be difficult to hand feed at an early age (so can most birds I suppose), but as said, they would be very easy to tame. However, I recommend from 5 weeks old to give them some independence and let them get into their own kinds of trouble...makes them funnier to watch than a bird that has been weened by hand from an earlier age.

The late Polly never left me, and was too dependent on me (wouldn't even take a bath unless I was in the room to watch over), however Riff & Raff while they love going for walks with me on my shoulder will most of the time make up their minds as to what suits their mood best. So let them get themselves sorted out before taking them in (IMO).

Finally, while Javas are big, if you have them tamed they can be kept in a relatively small cage. Riff & Raff have a smaller flight cage than I would like now, roughly about 4ft all around, but I leave the cage door open all the time so they can come and go as they please and roam around the various rooms. the only time I close the cage door is at night when it is bed time for everyone (nothing worse than having a Java do a big jobbie on your forehead when you are sleeping at 3am)

[jamezyboo21]

Okay Thanks for all the replies. I am actually getting ready to build a 4 cage flight. I am building a 8' long, 4' tall, 2 ft' wide cage that will be split into 4 flights. Meaning each flight will be 4' long, 2' tall, and 2' wide.

Im thinking the flights will be like this:

Flight 1. 4 pairs. goulds

Flight 2. 1 pair of each. stars, bronze wings, spice

Flight 3. 1 pair of each. owls, red cheek cordons, societies

Flight 4. 1 pair of each. St. Helena, orange cheek,and goldbreasted waxbill


I will be using my old flight for zebras, shaft tails, green singing, and cut throat finches

[mondo]

Geordie

inspirational!!
tell me, is it possible to tame fledgling javas? when they've already opened their eyes and started exploring despite being unable to fly
OR is it better to hand feed them while they're still somewhat or half naked?