Green Backed Twinspots

[Justino222]

Thats why I pause on the thought of termites. I live in a condo and cannot put that in my home. I have mealworms, and ordered phoenix worms as well, and wax worms. Hope that will be ok with the birdies:)

[MariusStegmann]

Personally, I have my doubts whether meal worms are very good for birds. In my opinion, it doesn't contain much nutritional value and just makes the birds fat. If you have an outside aviary, you can put fruit like banana, sweet melon and pineapple in the aviary. That will quickly draw a lot of fruitflies. The birds can then help themselves to it.

[lovezebs]

Justino222

Haven't seen your post until today.
I did read your other post about your first female passing away-- I'm sorry.

I'm glad that you caught this girl in time to intervene and save her.

Regarding live foods:

In an indoor flight, I would definitely not try termites . That could be disastrous.

Mealworms, wax worms, Phoenix worms, and grab a culture of flightless fruit flies. My Waxbills, love these little guys. They sit on top of the plastic container, and wait for them to come out through the holes that I poke in the cover. I get these in my Pet Shop (not sure if you can order on line or not).

Good luck.

[wildbill]

if you want to breed some birds -you have to think outside the square...lol now as for the termites. I would put them in a weighted container surrounded by a small moat of water.
the termites will stay put and make no attempt to cross the water. none will escape but their end is near
photo only an example but you get the idea. orange container centred in the pool and weighted. not only do I think it would work -it will work!

[finchman]

On the termite issue; as long as you are not introducing queen termites into the mix (they are much larger and the ONLY termites capable of reproducing) I don't see there being much harm if a few got loose. But, to each their own!

[Justino222]

Wow guys! thanks for all the info wildbill that would be a good thing to try. Right now I have mealworms, waxworks, and phoenix worms being delivered. The phoenix worms are freeze dried though, so I'm not sure they will take to them.

lovezebs If I have fruit flies, will I have to worry about them getting out into the house? What if it takes a little while for the finch to take to them? I'm assuming they can get out of the cage, but probably die? The box idea with the holes sounds like a great idea to control the flow of them.

[Justino222]

I didn't even think of that finchman I think I may give them a try. I really want to give these guys their best chance at breeding.

[lovezebs]

Justino222

Re. Flightless Fruit Flies.
They don't get around as much as the flighted ones.
The only time I got into trouble, was when I opened the container, and tried to dump a few of them out the darn things crawled up my arms, into my shirt and everywhere.

After that, I came up with the idea of poking tiny holes in the covered air hole spaces, and placing the container in the flight. They come out one or two at a time (give or take) and get snapped up immediately. If you want more to pop out, you give the container a little shake.

You could always use Wildbill's idea for this as well, and place the container in a shallow dish of water.

[lovezebs]

wildbill

That's a super great idea. I love it!!!

[wildbill]

look at it this way -if I had those twin spots and if I did they would be worth thousands of $$$$ here in Australia and I have never seen them - I'd place them in a secluded aviary and apart from the usual grass and feathers etc I'd supply a healthy seed diet and some green food plus termites on a daily basis when in breeding mode.
if I couldn't breed them after that -I'd give up. just think of your favorite food and some-body said eat as much as you like too! in the twinspots case it would be termites. unlike mealworms -non fattening too.

[Justino222]

I think I may try the termites. You have a great idea with the water! I really appreciate your reply. In america they are about $100 a piece.

[Justino222]

any preferences on green food

[MariusStegmann]

wildbill Twinspots also get stimulated into breeding mode by rain. In the wild they occur in summer rainfall areas. As soon as the rainy season starts, insects are more plentiful, even termites starts expanding their hills and are easier to get hold off. Where I live, we have winter rain, some successful breeders that I know, put water sprinklers on next to their aviaries everyday and thus get them into breeding mode. To see a twinspot cock courting his hen is quite a sight, he would take a leaf, a large feather or a piece of grass in its beak and hop up and down next to the hen. He would jump about 12 to 15 cm high into the air. When I first saw it I immediately thought that there was a frog inside my aviary, when I got closer, I saw it was the twinspot cock.

[wildbill]

Justino222

down under I just use lettuce soaked overnight in a high vitamin water mix of solaminovit powder. some may disagree with lettuce but it absorbs the mix overnight so I class it as a green multi-vitamin food which I serve daily to about 250-300 birds...some with head values @ $700 each

@MariusStegmann

that dance would be a sight to see. it's a pity we can't import birds this way but that's how it goes. if given the opportunity i'd certainly like to have a go at a pair of magpie mannikins again. last time that happened was 45 years ago...lol

[Justino222]

That sounds like a good idea!! Wow, those are some expensive birds:)