Attempting a breeding journal / Habits/behaviour updates

[MariusStegmann]

Matthias I don't think that you are doing anything wrong. You only had your birds for a couple of weeks. Sometimes birds mate long before the nest is ready.

[Matthias]

Thanks Marius,

Will wait and see what happens.. will also try post some photos

[finchmix22]

Matthias
Can you tell me in inches or feet how wide the aviary is in length and width? You have several pushy and/or aggressive pairs that is really a high risk for losing birds or their hatchlings/eggs. Green Singers are typically aggressive during breeding season. Cutthroats are pretty aggressive. Lavendars are pushy, but not aggressive like the Cubans or other aggressive and sometimes deadly species. I've had very passive Green Singers and I've had an aggressive/murderous GS, so their temperments vary. I'm sure that is true of other species we are told are aggressive. The main thing is give them a lot of space, lots of branches/perches with greenery to offer places to hide and get away from any bullying and multiple nests, water and food stations, so they don't have to fight for territory.

[Matthias]

The aviary is just over 3 feet wide and 4 metres long and 2.2 metres high.with a total of 28 birds inside it with a possibility of taking out another 12.the 4 hecks 2 parsons and 6 bengalese.not sure yet though.depends what happens once I put the owls, cut throats , silver bills and male fire finch in .The aviary has 2 big trees taking up the height of the cage and just over a metre In width. They have many nests.more than a nest each.not each pair but each bird.theres about 30 nests. There are four feeding dishes with 2 different type of seed mix.egg food with shrimps and meal worms and this mix which smells darn good.its a.dwrk mix with dead insects and also offer separate meal worms and millet spray and they have one huge water dish where they can bathe and drink.surrounded some nests with artificial plants also.so I think I have the right set up.what do u reckon finchmix22

[finchmix22]

Matthias
Sounds like a super setup! I'd keep the society's, owls, stars, fire, green singers, lavenders, parrot finches, and say goodbye to the Cubans, hecks, and parsons. I can't recall the others that make up the 28 finches. Post pics when you can as I'd love to see your setup.

[Matthias]

finchmix22

the other birds are the CB's..4 of them and 1 pair cherry heads.. all 6 cause absolutely zero trouble in the cage.. neither have the hecks and parsons or bengalese but i might take them out for the sake of numbers since im soon putting the owls,silverbills and cuthroats and the mail firefinch..

you think id be able to keep a pair of parsons and hecks in two seperate breeding cages within the aviary itself ?

[finchmix22]

Matthias
Why don't you keep the Bengalese, hecks and parons in the aviary and not put the silverbills, and cutthroats in the aviary? You could put them in breeder cages or a separate and smaller aviary? I'd hate to hear you lost some beautiful finches due to territorial and competition issues. Obviously, it's your choice to make, but I've lost finches due to my own stubborness regarding how I wanted the setup to look, rather than what was best for the combination of finches in the flight. Now, I'm more careful which species I house together.

Let us know your final setup and take pics! Hopefully, you can provide an aviary atmosphere that will house your favorites without any problems.

[Matthias]

finchmix22

The reason I thought to move the hecks and parsons was mainly due to size maybe being intimidating and maybe eventual pushyness towards the smaller finches.i believe the silver bills to be quite passive finches no? Might consider the cutthroats in a separate breeding cage if they turn out to be aggressive.will give them a chance in the aviary first to see how they do.due to space I can't have another aviary and the breeding cages will probably have to be mounted inside the aviary. Probably the lower part which anyway is barely visited by the finches as they prefer the top parts of the aviary so won't be taking much space like that.

[finchmix22]

Matthias
I understand space constraints. I do want to see your set up and pics of your finches. You have a big project on your hands. Good Luck!

[Matthias]

finchmix22

Ill try take some good photos today or tomorrow as ive been quite busy these days with finishing touches at the house and soccer practice and work..

if only i had more space.. eventually when we move to a bigger house my wife can wave good bye to the garden .. thank god shes not too fond of outer space in a house so it will be aaaaaaall miiiiiiiiine

[Matthias]

Today i was feeding the birds and went into the inner part of the aviary to arrange some of the artificial plants.. whilst i was there i remembered there was a nest which was fully built but i never discovered whos it was.. its been ready for about 2 weeks and not once did i see any of the birds enter it or just as much go close to it.. well today curiosity killed me and i put my finger inside to discover that there is an egg..spent an hour on the floor of the aviary to try catch the perpetrators to no avail.. whoever is inhabiting it must be REALLLLY sneaky .. cant wait to find out whos laid in this nest.. i hope i didnt disrupt it now also by putting my finger inside the nest and feeling the egg..

[finchmix22]

Well, you'll have a surprise. If there is just one egg they just started laying a clutch, so after about five days, you can start counting and listen for chirping/begging in two weeks.

[Matthias]

finchmix22

yepp.. im way to curious .. have just gotten off ebay and debating wether to install an IP camera in the inner part of the aviary to give me more control without disturbing the birds much

[finchmix22]

LOL. I was thinking of suggesting an aviary web cam. That would be so cool to watch your finches in the aviary!

[Matthias]

finchmix22

Haha .Oh yes.i guess I will go ahead and buy this ip camera.can check on them from my phone or pc at work also..god I'm curious.dont know how I'm going to manage to avoid nest checks.