Breeding Cordon Bleu pair

[Rox]

Derk

Mary, if you find hens, you must definitely keep the two different types of cordon's separate. Keeping to the 2 boys together is fine but if hens are around, they will hybridize.

I had two blue-cap males together for over a year while looking for hens. When I eventually found hens and separated the 2 pairs into different aviary's, they each accept their new hens pretty quickly.

And yes, rather let the fly lavae defrost first

[Derk]

Rox
Thanks for confirming the two types of CBs should not be bred together. Unfortunately, it seems I meet quite a few finch people who do not really care what breeds together. Owl x zebras seems to be a novelty at the moment. Obviously, if it is just a colour mutation like with zebras, societies, (and am I correct that includes gouldians?) I have no issue. But personally, I don't want to be breeding two different species and I have received conflicting information regarding the CBs.

[Rox]

Derk Yeah, unfortunately it happens here in SA as well. Some people just don't care about the purity of the species.

I saw a post on FB with a Society x Fire Finch hybrid... I honestly don't see the point of it!

I was warned by our local importer that SA might stop all imports of African finches/waxbills at the end of this year. This will then probably affect the rest of the world as well. If wild caught's are stopped (which I fully support), then we all need to focus on breeding pure lines in captivity. We can't afford for hybridization to take place.

[Derk]

Rox

I was warned by our local importer that SA might stop all imports of African finches/waxbills at the end of this year.

YIKES! The prices will skyrocket! But I totally understand. It makes me sick to hear about some of the methods of catching birds, not to mention the losses...it makes me feel guilty that I ultimately have benefited from this practice even if my birds were cage bred. Perhaps you should post a new topic and let everyone now about this possible development?

I saw a little owl x zeb hybrid at the birdmart on Sunday. Poor little guy was pecked and plucked. All the other birds were fine. I am guessing his cage mates just did not know what to make of him.

I saw a post on FB with a Society x Fire Finch hybrid... I honestly don't see the point of it!

It does seem like an odd thing to do on purpose.

[slwatson]

Derk

I'm going to put them in their own flight cage so they have plenty of room and hiding places

[Rox]

Derk I will probably be going through to the importer in the next 2 weeks or so and will try and get more info.

If the ban does come into place, I will be doing my utmost to purchase quite a few pairs of Orange-cheeked waxbills in particular. I had success breeding them last season and have just set up another 4 pairs, so will see. Love these little birds and would hate for them to disappear from aviculture.

And yup, prices will go through the roof for the more rarer birds. We just need to ensure that what happened in Australia, doesn't happen elsewhere. Australia stopped imports many years ago and lost a lot of African species due to it. What is left is hanging on by a thread there. The problem is that most of the African species are more difficult to breed (require live food etc), so not many people have put in the same effort as gouldians or parrot finches for example. If we don't get more people breeding quality, pure lines, then they could disappear from our aviary's for good

[Sally]

Derk@slwatson@Rox If imports stop, that will be devastating to U.S. aviculture too, as we will only have what is in the country now. Now I have to get off my lazy duff and set my birds up for breeding! I have not been breeding my birds for some time now, and shame on me. Here I am encouraging others to breed, but not making an example for others to follow. Once imports stop, Rox is correct about the prices--they will go beyond the reach of many breeders. I paid $250 for a pair of Goldbreasts in 2007, just before the CITES ban was lifted!

I too hate to see the hybrids. I understand the challenge, but breeders have to realize that it is basically irresponsible. We see the same in dogs here in the U.S., except that people are paying high prices for these hybrids, which just encourages greedy breeders to produce even more hybrids. What was considered a mutt and given away for free when I was young is now considered a 'breed' and commands high $$$.

Mary, when you get hens for your two boys, each pair will need to be in their own cage, as once you introduce hens into the mix, the males will become very aggressive to each other. And yes, it is very important to keep the two species separate, as they can easily produce fertile hybrids. It is so important to keep these two species pure, and if the imports stop, then I hope the indiscriminate hybrid breeding stops.

[Derk]

Sally

$250 for a pair of Goldbreasts in 2007

I have two pair and wanted a third...I best get a move on it. One of my females came to me very melanistic. I knew this happened to strawberries, but I guess these are related. I am thinking she should not be bred. So I guess that means another one.

when you get hens for your two boys, each pair will need to be in their own cage, as once you introduce hens into the mix, the males will become very aggressive to each other

I just finished reading about this...who would have thought such sweet little birds would turn so nasty! I currently house the CB pairs with Gold breasted waxbills in a 30 x 18 x 18, but do not have them set up for breeding yet. Will I likely have to remove the GB?

[Sally]

Derk I think you could go ahead and breed your melanistic GB hen, as that condition is caused by diet/environment, not genetics. Strawberries and GBs are closely related and seem to have some of the same problems in captivity--fast-growing toenails too!

Probably a 30x18x18 should be used for just one pair of waxbills, though long ago I successfully paired Red-billed Fires and Goldbreasts in the same 34x18x18 cage. It probably would not cause aggression in either pair, since CBs are usually only aggressive to other CB pairs, but it might be a territorial problem, with each pair not having quite enough territory to feel comfortable.

[Derk]

Sally
The GB I bought this spring, and it had a few black feathers on its breast. I could not believe how fast the rest came in. My strawberries have had a few black feathers all along but no drastic increase like this bird. I had two very melanistic male strawberries and they slowly started eating the LaFeber's. When they moulted their colour improved a lot. That is what I had expected with the GB. I was really worried something else might be wrong with her even though I know their are related to the strawberries and will cross breed if allowed. (I keep them separate, of course)

Do you provide D3 in a supplement?

I have one CB and GB cage with one breeding pair of each. They seem to get along fine, but neither is mating/laying eggs. I am not feeding them to promote that behaviour at the moment. I thought I should let them settle in and try and get them eating the Lafeber's first. The other cage has a breeding pair of GB and the two male CB - RC & BC. These I acquired closer to summer and ditto for feeding. It seems I am still dragging my feet when it comes to breeding. That and I really do want larger cages. Until that happens, I will decrease the number to one breeding pair if I see a problem or when I decide to start feeding egg food etc and supplying nesting material. But thank-you for all your suggestions. I do keep track of them and really appreciate all your feedback! I set them up this way because most of these birds came from the same person and that is how he had them. And he had no luck with babies even though he fed them correctly and supplied all the nesting materials, and live food etc. Could be they aren't fighters, but still want their privacy.

I have been picking up a lot of greenery. If I place it around the outside of the 30 x 18's do I need to put much inside - except for around the nest box? I worry about them getting caught up in it. I will definitely clip their nails prior.

[slwatson]

So I put my BCCB pair in a large flight, with three different kinds of nests, and several hiding places made of artificial ivys and other plants. Within three days, they started building a nest ON TOP of one of the wicker nests I had in the cage. I was worried it wouldn't be stable enough, so I took a corner wooden perch, wrapped it in artificial ivy, and placed it under the nest they were already making out of coconut fibers to give it more support. Then last night, I witnessed their mating ritual and they bred on the bottom of the cage! I think I'm doing it right!! I've been giving them several kinds of insect food mixed with their egg food, and live mealworms too. My 11 year old son got to see them mating also, but he wasn't as excited as I was about their intensity!

[Sally]

Derk Sorry I'm just getting back to you, haven't been on the forum as much lately, just busy. You could definitely place fake plants on the outside of the cage, as all you are trying to do is give them some privacy. My birds do like for their nests to be hidden.

I've also been dragging my feet about getting back into breeding after a long hiatus. Now that show season is over, I would like to redo my bird room and get some pairs set up.

[slwatson]

Sally Derk

My BCCB hen has been in the nest almost continuously now! I'm way too scared to look and see if there's eggs, but I'm willing to bet she's laid some. Should I go ahead and start offering live food now all of the time? Are mealworms, waxworms, and small crickets appropriate? I've already been giving egg food with insect food mixed, and I add a few mealworms every other day. I just need to get a dish that keeps everything from crawling out.

[Sally]

slwatson If she is in the nest this much, she probably has started a clutch. Don't check, even though it is so tempting, as this is a species that will abandon in a heartbeat. I'd go ahead and be offering daily live food. I've also had success offering my egg food with freeze-dried bloodworms mixed in. One thing to keep in mind, don't ever let the egg food dish get empty, keep it filled all the time. These birds are quick to abandon if they think they won't have plentiful food for their babies. I tried tiny crickets one time, but they hopped all over the place, out of the cages, so that didn't work for me. I haven't tried waxworms, but if yours eat them, I'd keep it up. I had success with mini mealworms, though CBs tend to toss the bodies all over the place.

Good luck with it, and please keep us posted!

[slwatson]

Sally

Thanks for the info! I haven't gone anywhere near the nest, for fear of her abandoning it. They made the nest themselves, so the opening is actually on the side, and I can't see inside of it, which I think is a good thing. I'll definitely keep everyone posted