I have had two pairs of chestnut breasted mannikins for a week now and they seem very destructive. They have torn apart 2 unused nests and part of a bamboo tree (little one). They have a large avairy with plenty of branches, vegetation and food, so i cant see it being from boredom (theres also about 20 other finches in there with them). And they dont seem to be nesting...
Its just like they have some urge to rip apart the nests? Is this common with these birds (never had them before) or any other finches? I have goulds, stars, owls and orange chested waxbills and non have the destructive tendency! What worries me most is that one pair of waxbills have shown interest in a half destroyed nest but the mannikins interupt them when they are in there.
Its quite amusing though, in one way, because both pairs of mannikins do the destroying together, like they are a team. By destroying, i mean that they pick all the material from the nest apart so it falls to the floor (these are mesh nests with nesting material stuffed/shaped in them).
destructive mannikins!
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tammieb
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I have not kept this species. Here are a few links, maybe they will help.
http://www.efinch.com/species/cbm.htm
http://www.zebrafinch.com/Gouldians/ChestnutBrsted.html
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _munia.php
http://www.efinch.com/species/cbm.htm
http://www.zebrafinch.com/Gouldians/ChestnutBrsted.html
http://www.finchinfo.com/birds/finches/ ... _munia.php
TammieB.
Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke~
Use the talents you possess - for the woods would be a very silent place if no birds sang except for the best. ~Henry Van Dyke~
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C A
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destructive mannikins
I have read in my hours of forum and web searching:) that some aviculturists will rearrange their perches just before introducing a new pair to their aviary to keep quarreling to a minimum. I am wondering if removing the nests for a while and replacing them in different places might have a similar effect, possibly calming your mannikins. Sounds like that's what they are trying to do anyway!
EDIT: The more I research these birds, the more I agree with what Allan said. Mine sure are a little more aggressive than I had hoped. They were described as good community birds when I purchased them.
Maybe if there are no nests In the flight!
EDIT: The more I research these birds, the more I agree with what Allan said. Mine sure are a little more aggressive than I had hoped. They were described as good community birds when I purchased them.
Maybe if there are no nests In the flight!
Last edited by C A on Mon May 14, 2007 3:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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allan
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Bronze-wing mannikins
I found mannikins to be very aggresive birds. Usually disruptive to other nesting birds in an aviary. Some types of mannikins are fairly gentle but not bronze-wings. They are energetic little finches and enjoy their own flock but tend to be just like you are finding out. They might be OK with healthy adult zebras or spices but I never kept them with any pairs I desired to breed.
Allan In FL
Allan In FL
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emilmh
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well to clear things up. They aren't actually fighting. They are jsut ripping some (of my more adventurous home made) nests to pieces, lol. After ive had them for several weeks now, ive come to the conclusion that they just love to nibble, bite and pick at things. I haven't found them aggressive at all, however they are a bit bigger than 'normal' finches so they tend to have more 'presence' when they come (sometimes might 'push' other finches out of the way).
But they are still beautiful birds, and amongst the most active I have. They are always singing and doing their little 'spiked hair' behaviour, they're a funny bunch.
My white headed mannikins which i have only one pair (im not 100% its a pair, too hard to sex them) seem like very shy birds, but taht could simply be to them being out numbered!
PS. i have 2 pairs chestnut breasted and 1 pair white headed mannikins in amongst, 8 double bars, 2 pairs orange breasted waxbills and about 30 gouldians and they have no trouble getting along in one big mixed avairy
But they are still beautiful birds, and amongst the most active I have. They are always singing and doing their little 'spiked hair' behaviour, they're a funny bunch.
My white headed mannikins which i have only one pair (im not 100% its a pair, too hard to sex them) seem like very shy birds, but taht could simply be to them being out numbered!
PS. i have 2 pairs chestnut breasted and 1 pair white headed mannikins in amongst, 8 double bars, 2 pairs orange breasted waxbills and about 30 gouldians and they have no trouble getting along in one big mixed avairy
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C A
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Arsdelicata
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AC I see you have Bronze wing, I am so happy to find another vronze wing owner.
I have 9 now. They are a tad fiesty durring the day, and they have even been mean, one bit another's leg from the inside of their cage and the one outside started flapping and going burzurk...
Mean little trick!
Yes they like to tear up everything. but then every night, all 9 sleep together in same basket nest. Despite the fact they have 5 avalable nests and they sometimes sleep in a different one, but allways all 9 together.
One of the chicks born here, looks like a pied Bronze wing?
Ever heard of any color mutations in this species?
I have 9 now. They are a tad fiesty durring the day, and they have even been mean, one bit another's leg from the inside of their cage and the one outside started flapping and going burzurk...
Mean little trick!
Yes they like to tear up everything. but then every night, all 9 sleep together in same basket nest. Despite the fact they have 5 avalable nests and they sometimes sleep in a different one, but allways all 9 together.
One of the chicks born here, looks like a pied Bronze wing?
Ever heard of any color mutations in this species?
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Hilary
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I haven't been lucky enough to find chestnut-breasted mannikins, but my white heads are just as you describe - either very shy, or at least very "reserved". Beautiful birds, though. The bronze wings are just nuts! I have two males in my "bachelor" cage of male goulds, and I'm considering moving them just because I think their constant activity is stressing out the goulds! 
Hilary
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C A
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I haven't heard of any color mutations in bronze-wings. Do you have a picture? I would love to see any rare coloration in this species (if that's what it is!) I know very little about breeding these birds, mine haven't yetArsdelicata wrote:
One of the chicks born here, looks like a pied Bronze wing?
Ever heard of any color mutations in this species?
. Do you know of anything they may need to be more successful breeding? Any live food/plants etc. that could help?-
Arsdelicata
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Hi CA, and all,
I am working on getting better pics but I did post some under a thread about Mannikins in this same species section of the forum.
I basically never mess with the birds, if I "Have to Catch them," the best way is to wait til dark as they don't like to fly at night. then I put a light on, look at exactly the place the bird is, turn the light off and sneak up there and snatch the bird. They don't fuss in the dark and stay very still.
The second way is to just wait til the bird flies back to it's cage ( preferred method ).
I have regular finch seed for them, mixed with parakeet gravel, and lafeber's Premium diet for finches which is like a tiny mini pellets. Then I found they like to eat alfalfa sprouts ( supermarket bought) and grass seads that I get from outsite, where these grasses grow wild. They love this one particular grass you can see in my pictures, and they also make nests out of the stuff, but now that they have some basket nests I bought for them, they fill them with this grass. I have noticed little red bugs on the grass seeds sometimes and I "think" the birds eat then, as they preffer eating this grass to all else and when I bring a fresh batch of grass inside it is like party chow down time. I triede several grasses at first, but now that I know their favorite, I go out and pick only those kind.
They have about 4 water cups and they love to bathe everyday, some are inside the cages some hang on the outside. I read that they like cooked egg with the shell and all grinded up into it. But I don't think they like it very much. ( Ive not seen them eating it). I change the water and feed preferably at night when they are sleeping and don't notice.
As for the breeding part I just left them alone and never even peaked into the nest, only after they all grew up and eventually destroyed and ate their original nest, did I find out there was an unhatched egg in there.
As long as I ignore them they are wonderful and even fly close around me. I read that finches are for looking at and not for touching so I follow that rule.
Besides all that I am new to this, these are my first finches,
The pied Mannakin is an offspring of my original two Bronze wings, the babies were a total of 4 and this one is the only different one....
I'll look for good pics.
Jo-Ann
I am working on getting better pics but I did post some under a thread about Mannikins in this same species section of the forum.
I basically never mess with the birds, if I "Have to Catch them," the best way is to wait til dark as they don't like to fly at night. then I put a light on, look at exactly the place the bird is, turn the light off and sneak up there and snatch the bird. They don't fuss in the dark and stay very still.
The second way is to just wait til the bird flies back to it's cage ( preferred method ).
I have regular finch seed for them, mixed with parakeet gravel, and lafeber's Premium diet for finches which is like a tiny mini pellets. Then I found they like to eat alfalfa sprouts ( supermarket bought) and grass seads that I get from outsite, where these grasses grow wild. They love this one particular grass you can see in my pictures, and they also make nests out of the stuff, but now that they have some basket nests I bought for them, they fill them with this grass. I have noticed little red bugs on the grass seeds sometimes and I "think" the birds eat then, as they preffer eating this grass to all else and when I bring a fresh batch of grass inside it is like party chow down time. I triede several grasses at first, but now that I know their favorite, I go out and pick only those kind.
They have about 4 water cups and they love to bathe everyday, some are inside the cages some hang on the outside. I read that they like cooked egg with the shell and all grinded up into it. But I don't think they like it very much. ( Ive not seen them eating it). I change the water and feed preferably at night when they are sleeping and don't notice.
As for the breeding part I just left them alone and never even peaked into the nest, only after they all grew up and eventually destroyed and ate their original nest, did I find out there was an unhatched egg in there.
As long as I ignore them they are wonderful and even fly close around me. I read that finches are for looking at and not for touching so I follow that rule.
Besides all that I am new to this, these are my first finches,
The pied Mannakin is an offspring of my original two Bronze wings, the babies were a total of 4 and this one is the only different one....
I'll look for good pics.
Jo-Ann
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Arsdelicata
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Hi Guys, I got some really good pics today, need to process them, pics of my birds, and of some outside, from the species guide here I saw what looked like ( Exactly like) the spice finch, two, a pair..... But they call the "nutmeg mannikin ( Lonchura punctulata) in Mike Oberle's PR Birds book.
Mannakins have lived wild in PR also since colonial times. here they are called " Diablitos" which in spanish means "Little Devils" and that is so fitting for there destructive tendencies. In the book it also lists many finches not listed on the species page of the forum so now I am all excited about going hunting for bird pics with my camera
I forgot to say, My birds also LOVE Millet, but I read it is poor in nitrition so they only get it at spacial times.
again sorry for the delay on the pics, but I have to size them down, upload then to my site etc etc
I am really considering getting a pair of gouldians as I feel they are the most beautiful of the finch world, and I have an antique special canary breeding cage with the divider thingie and all. ( Is that Suitable?)
So Far the Birds I have seen for sale in the pet shops here are
Cut throught finch, Lady Goulds, Society ( Pied), Canaries, Zebras, Bronze wing are rare to see, but very affordable at $20.00 a pair.
I used to see Javas all the time and have not seen any in years now.
Best Wishes to all.
Mannakins have lived wild in PR also since colonial times. here they are called " Diablitos" which in spanish means "Little Devils" and that is so fitting for there destructive tendencies. In the book it also lists many finches not listed on the species page of the forum so now I am all excited about going hunting for bird pics with my camera
I forgot to say, My birds also LOVE Millet, but I read it is poor in nitrition so they only get it at spacial times.
again sorry for the delay on the pics, but I have to size them down, upload then to my site etc etc
I am really considering getting a pair of gouldians as I feel they are the most beautiful of the finch world, and I have an antique special canary breeding cage with the divider thingie and all. ( Is that Suitable?)
So Far the Birds I have seen for sale in the pet shops here are
Cut throught finch, Lady Goulds, Society ( Pied), Canaries, Zebras, Bronze wing are rare to see, but very affordable at $20.00 a pair.
I used to see Javas all the time and have not seen any in years now.
Best Wishes to all.