Cando's influence - Seagreens

[monotwine]

Well I went off and collected my new pair of Seagreen Parrot Finches today.
They are rather young still, but I am excited to see what they will do in their first future breeding season.
Their breeder said there is a small chance they could throw a few pieds out. NOW that would be a bargin. I got them for the seagreen though, so pieds would be an absolute bonus.

They are rather skittish and wary of the camera, as they come from large outdoor aviaries. Nice for me though as it means they are also hardy enough for my aviary.

[cindy]

Very nice and congratulations Monotwine.

I hope they do well for you and give you wonderful little ones. Nice addition to your aviary.

[FeatherHarp]

Lovely Seagreens! They are near the top of my list of finches to get someday.

[lovemyfinch]

Lovely addition

[L in Ontario]

Great looking fids - congratulations and best wishes for many healthy babies!

[Domenic]

I was waiting for this post! They are gorgeous, that turquoise is very very deep. They must be in quarantine now, can't wait to see them in the outdoor aviary!

[CandoAviary]

Well...I'll be... Gorgeous I think the youngsters are so cute when they color up. They speckle like a case of the measles. Soon they will be in full color. The first adult moult and they get even more vibrant.
Those have some nice olor for being so young. Congratulations

[monotwine]

Wow thanks for the compliments. Not knowing a thing about the best of the mutation has to offer, I consider your inputs very worthy! Seems I got a good start then.

Yip Domenic, they in quarantine. So pics are from indoors too. No natural sun pics yet to show off any colors. That will come in time. Hopefully by end of quarantine they will have fully coloured out.
Then I will take more pics.

This breeder also had lovely Gouldians bred outdoors in wind, hot, cold coastal conditions. I must stop looking at all the beautiful Gouldians on this forum or I may get ideas!!!!

[Sally]

Congrats on the new Seagreens, they are lovely! I was just talking with a friend of mine, and he said that when getting any of the monomorphic species that are not closed banded, he prefers to get young ones, and then he knows their age. I had told him that most of my breeding pairs were purchased as adult birds with no closed bands, and so I really can't say how old they were when I got them. That is another good reason to deal with people you know and trust, that won't sell you an old bird as a youngster.

[dfcauley]

Congratulations on your new additions. How old are these birds? Just wondering about how long it takes them to get their color.....

Beautiful!!!

[monotwine]

dfcauley, They are about 4 months old. If I am not mistaken they mature early on. I think they are fully coloured and sexually active at around 6-7months.
My fledglings are about the same age and partially through their first moult.

I was just talking with a friend of mine, and he said that when getting any of the monomorphic species that are not closed banded, he prefers to get young ones, and then he knows their age.

Yip this breeder was selling them young, he split colour bands his young into family clutches, but does not close band or have them sexed. So I may land up not having a pair. Sexing was by sight/behaviour. I don't mind though either way. I have another good contact for Seagreens if this turns out to be two males.

I was chatting to this breeder and he was telling me more or less the same story about how some try scam you into buying old birds.He wants young too to add to his collection for new genes, but wanted them in their first moult so he knew their age. Very few finches here other than specialised breeders close ring (mostly parrots). Some don't even bother to ring at all that I know of. There is no call for it here if you want to sell your birds, you just take them to a pet shop. No questions asked.
Hence I am now slowly contacting breeders and, like you say, then I can trust where my birds are coming from and know they are unrelated.
Additionally I take the time to talk to the breeders willing to chat about how they keep and breed their birds. Most enlightening for me. Always looking to learn more.

[CandoAviary]

I agree that getting to know and chat with experienced breeders is the best. I have learned much from books but from talking to the birdkeepers, I learn the most. And I love to see the twinkle in the eye of an old time birdkeeper when they tell their stories.