New Society Finches

[zebbiefan]

Here they are

[img]http://i365.photobucket.com/albums/oo96 ... 29.jpg/img]

Can anyone sex them for me please?

[L in Ontario]

Societies can only be sexed by listening to their song and dance (or lack of). Sorry but you'll have to watch and listen and let us know which they are! The males will sing a lovely song of various notes and the females will chirp (like a cricket). The males may also stand tall and trun from side to side whilst singing. The females will watch the males.

Good luck!

[zebbiefan]

Thanks I will keep my eye out

[Domenic]

Don't be fooled by the quivering tail either. Male and female societies will quiver their tail (a move typical of female finches).

[lovemyfinch]

Congrats on the new members of your family.

[zebbiefan]

well knowing my luck they will both be females, will the male sing more or less straight away

[ac12]

Some times they will take several days after you get them home for them to feel comfortable enough to sing.
One trick that I used for a SINGLE society is to put a mirror opposite the cage. Then if it is a male, it would sing to the "other" society. With 2 in a cage, you just have to watch to see if one would sing to the other.

Be patient.

[Domenic]

Mine sang five minutes after putting them in the cage. The other sang the day after being put in the cage. Some sing much more often than others.

[zebbiefan]

Some times they will take several days after you get them home for them to feel comfortable enough to sing.
One trick that I used for a SINGLE society is to put a mirror opposite the cage. Then if it is a male, it would sing to the "other" society. With 2 in a cage, you just have to watch to see if one would sing to the other.

Be patient.

Patience is something i havent got

[franny]

Put a nest in... or a bit of grass, or other nesting material. That may encourage the male to sing, if there is one...

[franny]

When I shopped for society finches in the past, I watched the cage, and picked one that sang, of course... but then I also picked one that tended to sit inside the dishes in the cage. I always seemed to get a female that way, and not just a quiet male.

[Meagan83]

When I shopped for society finches in the past, I watched the cage, and picked one that sang, of course... but then I also picked one that tended to sit inside the dishes in the cage. I always seemed to get a female that way, and not just a quiet male.

I use this method as well.

[monotwine]

Congrats on your new additions. Societies are sweet birds.

Singing and behavioural display appart from surgical or genetic testing is the best method of sexing your birds.
Only other method I've used for sexing is looking at their beaks. Some breeders use that method here and it works funnily enough.
Complete the line the beak makes when closed. If the line travels through the eye its usually a male. Below the eye a female. (or it could be the other way I think this was the right way round though) I usually just look for one of each. Sounds weird and at first I totally disbelieved, but I have now used this on a few occasions and so far been 100%.
Perhaps I have just been lucky and I won't hold my breath on it always being correct either.

Attached a pic not at the best angle as the bird was looking towards me, but you get the drift. This was a male.

[L in Ontario]

Wow - another little know fact! At least I'd never heard of that.

BTW is he blowing you a raspberry?!

[monotwine]

I almost spewed my coffee over the keyboard! Raspberry!
Actually he has a little stick / leaf in his mouth he was softening for a nest.