New black-crowned waxbills

[isobea]

Aurelien LEQUOY - sorry, I overlooked your post. I read about people breeding black-crowned waxbills in Germany. I don't know if they are rare there or not. Maybe you could get some either from Germany or Holland (the Dutch are really into breeding birds).
Good luck,
Iso

[w.l.]

I also got a 2nd "pair"(?) in the meantime.
The 1st one built a nest ages ago, but seems to use it for sleeping only.
Mind you, I can't really check, as I hate to enter my aviary, and these shy little birds are my hardest to observe.

[w.l.]

How are your black-crowned waxbills doing? Did they raise any babies? Unfortunately I lost all of mine, one after the other, one or two months apart for no obvious reason. Healthy one day, a little off the next and dead by the following morning. A friend of mine bought seven out of the same shipment and only has one of them left. Same scenario - and he is a very experienced long-time breeder of many different species of finches. Maybe it wasn't something we did or didn't do but that they were exposed to something during shipping, quarantine or at the holding station. Guess we'll never know.
Iso

I bought first 2 pairs, of which one male got some really bad eye infection.
It survived with it but became so shortsighted it had difficulty flying up to perches etc so eventually I decided to put it out of its mysery and get a replacement.
So now I should have four, but in the last week or so I have only seen 3 at time.
They are in a large birdroom and shy enough to stay far from me most of the time so I can't tell if it is the same 3 all the time. No dead one is visible anywhere though....
So now I have 2 possible scenarios:
1. More likely, one has died somewhere hidden - in a nest? They had been checking some.
2. One is on eggs - would be too good to be true!
The logical thing to do would be to go in an check all nests, but with my birdroom being inhabited by various waxbills known for being ready to abando nests at the slightest disturbance, I am reluctant to do this!
Well, at least I still have at least 3 of 5 bought...

[isobea]

w.l. - You know that's the strangest ting: my friend described the same scenario as you. His birds are out in a large aviary and they would just disappear one by one without him ever finding a body.
I wish you all the luck in the world. I loved those birds but will not buy any more from the same importer.
Iso

PS: Mine had also built a nest but only used it for sleeping.

[w.l.]

Honestly, I don't think it was the trader's fault, not with the birds dying months after buying them anyway. This species just seems a bit more delicate than most waxbills and might need extra care.
And, for breeding, its own aviary, as it seems too shy to flourish in a mixed aviary among more boisterous birds.

Incidentally, do you have this excellent German book:

http://www.amazon.com/Prachtfinken-Gerh ... 3800149648

It really seems to have all info available on waxbills and well worth the steep price!

[isobea]

w.l. - You know, my two pairs almost had my whole 16 ft long aviary to themselves. There were only six other birds in there besides them and plenty of eucalyptus branches and two smallish potted shrubs (but still enough open space for flying). So I'm really stumped about what went wrong.
And yes, I have the book you are mentioning - it was my Christmas present to myself last year. Lots of detailed information and well worth the price. Did you know there is a second book by the same authors dealing with finches from Australia, Oceania and southeast Asia? I'm tempted to look for that one when I'm back in Germany next May/June.
Iso

[w.l.]

I have both volumes, and I actually ordered them from the same US seller (delivered to Europe) as they were cheaper that way than buying from Germany!
Check the Amazon link I gave you.

Sounds like your waxbills were housed better than mine, except maybe for access to direct sunshine outside? Anyway, armed with that book and able to read the German forums, you sure knoe all there is to know about them. Sometimes things just don't work out despite the best odds.

[isobea]

w.l. - I actually joined one of the German forums, asked a lot of questions and got a few replies. It seems like all the posts from people who had had good luck keeping them and raising babies, were several years old. They didn't make keeping and breeding them sound difficult. Go figure.
BTW, my aviary faces south, part of the roof is covered with clear panels and my birds get lots of sunshine. So yet another dead end. But I'm always grateful for advice or suggestions about what the problem could have been. Keep us updated about your two pairs.
Iso

[w.l.]

isobea

Not tempted to try your luck with these petite birds again?
My 2 "pairs" are still alive and seemingly well, over 2 years in my posession.
I lost 2 birds out of a total 6 bought in this period. So it is possible to keep them alive!

I wonder how much luck others who posted having them have had with them?

[isobea]

w.l. - I still periodically check the internet but nobody has been offering them. I loved those birds, their personalities, always active and talking to each other, got along with all my other birds and somehow reminded me of the chickadees we had in Europe.

I would also love to hear from anybody on the forum who has been keeping them. Any luck breeding them?
Iso