Strawberries Busy Building

[BigBear0007]

Hi everybody!!

My strawberries have been going to town with the nest building but I really don't think they are quite ready yet, the male hasn't even coloured up?
But, the male does sing all day!

Jerry

[MariusStegmann]

Nice, I love Strawberries. My local Petshop had 2 pairs that 1 person bought. Both pairs are now raising 7 chicks. I can almost kick myself that I didn't buy a pair.

[lovezebs]

BigBear0007

My guys, (your old pair) are laying eggs, but not sitting tight yet.

~Elana~

[isobea]

BigBear0007 - my male has less color than yours and has already raised 2 chicks. He's just now beginning to color and the brand new feathers are indeed red. The ones he had when I bought him are more dark brown - he obviously didn't get enough (or no) direct sunlight during quarantine and at the importers. The amount of color doesn't seem to matter. When they are ready, they'll build a nest and raise their chicks.
Iso

[BigBear0007]

That's what I was thinking also, that it doesn't really matter about colour, to be ready. Als their colours develop darker and richer reds as they mature.

[Sally]

Strawberry males can breed whether in nuptial plumage or eclipse plumage, but they are more likely to attract a mate when in nuptial plumage. Males attract hens in the wild with color and song, so a male in the wild in eclipse plumage would have trouble convincing a hen that he is worthy of her favors.

[Derk]

BigBear007 - I am near Vancouver, BC and have a pair of Strawberries. I have never allowed anything to breed. I just recently gave my zebras nests and nesting material. I guess I am a little intimidated. Where did you get your strawberries and do you plan on selling babies?

Lovezeb - Elana - you are also in or near Calgary are you not? And do you plan on selling your strawberry babies?

Do you have fewer finches available because of the Avian Flu and border restrictions?

My brother just returned to Alberta after a 20+ year stay in the US. He is a little south of Calgary. It would be nice to meet up with some finchers when I go visit. Interested? I have no dates set as of yet.

[BigBear0007]

Mary that is a great idea!
If I have any babies I will definitely sell some to you!
But in the mean time try Pony Tail Joe, he is Peachland.
Elana's birds are ones I traded her with, and she is also in Calgary.
All my birds were from Pisces Pets here in Calgary and are Dutch or Begian imports.

Jerry

[Derk]

My two came from Ponytail. I was going to buy some more but too late. He sold his last two pair. The finch 'trading club' is relatively small here so it was only a couple weeks before someone I knew called to let me know they were bought by a man about 20 minutes from me. I was given his name and number and I have already spoken to him. He bought the last two pair plus the two extra males. He has successfully raised them before but then sold his breeding pair to someone who really wanted them. He kicked himself for that because his other pair never did produce anything. I am calling him in about ten days to hopefully arrange to meet him (check out his set up ) and possibly buy a yellow faced star finch.

Joe had both wild and 'European Bred.' Both mine are supposed to be the European bred ones. One has a band and one does not.

[Derk]

isobea
Do you keep your strawberries in an outside aviary? How long did you have them before their colour improved?

[isobea]

Derk - Hi Mary, yes all my birds are in an outside aviary. I bought my pair last October but the color of my male hasn't really improved much. For a while it looked like he was going to finally start changing color, but now they are busy raising another two babies and that seems to have put a stop to it. I noticed, though, that the few new feathers he grew are a nice orangey-red. The few colored feathers he had on his chest and belly when I bought him are very dark, almost more brownish. I am assuming those grew while he was in quarantine, the holding facility or at the importer's. Now that he is outside and exposed to plenty of direct sunlight, the new feathers should come in the correct color.
Iso

[Derk]

isobea
My male is currently adding more red feathers. It will be interesting to see how much his colour does improve. I read an article indicating temperature may also be a factor, so I have kept a heat lamp directed at their cage. I need to get a thermometer that also supplies the high and low temperature for the day. I hope to get mine outside during the day as it warms up but they will have to come inside in the fall.

Any chance you might end up having pictures to show the colour changes?

[Colt]

One of my two pairs is building a nest too. I'm so hoping they breed and are successful parents.

[Derk]

Colt
Good luck with the strawberries. A pair of my Zebs are currently raising 'our' first clutch. If I survive the stress (lol), I'll set up my pair of strawberries, too.

[BigBear0007]

This the cage my strawberries are in.
It may not be big enough, but they like it!