JACARINIS

[kenny66]

I am just wondering if anyone on the forum breeds jacarinis. They are a bit of an exotic for us over here. I am just getting into them and would be interested if anyone else bred this species.

[cindy]

They remind me of the Senegal Combassou (Indigo Finch -Vidua chalybeata)

http://www.jacarini.com/
http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html

[kenny66]

They remind me of the Senegal Combassou (Indigo Finch -Vidua chalybeata)

http://www.jacarini.com/
http://www.birdsexpress.net/combassou-f ... obird.html

yes I agree, very similar in temperament I believe. I have bred 3 clutches so far, a very difficult bird to understand to begin with. They start out really shy but after a time mine have become the most confiding in the aviary. The male will take meal worms from 6 inches away. avid live food consumers and very strange display from the male. He does a vertical flight from a display perch up about 18 inches and then a backwards somersault-very charming. The metallic blue hue to the feathers in the sunlight is quit beautiful. One of my favorites now. Only downside is tha they really do need a lot of space.

[cindy]

Angie has the combassou finch, I've toyed with the idea of getting a pair. They don't seem to do well in a standard 30 inch wide 18 high cage. It sounds like the height and space is needed. If an aviary is not available would a 36 high x 30 long cage be enough or do you recommend longer?

I've seen them in person, in the sunlight...very stunning birds. One of the breeders at a small show had several pairs available...the buyers were all talking about the male, how pretty it was when the light hit the feathers.

[kenny66]

Angie has the combassou finch, I've toyed with the idea of getting a pair. They don't seem to do well in a standard 30 inch wide 18 high cage. It sounds like the height and space is needed. If an aviary is not available would a 36 high x 30 long cage be enough or do you recommend longer?

I've seen them in person, in the sunlight...very stunning birds. One of the breeders at a small show had several pairs available...the buyers were all talking about the male, how pretty it was when the light hit the feathers.

I believe that both the combassou and jacarinis would like a high space, that is true. Problem is in such an active and secretive finch it is really difficult to give enough space to do what they do. Jacarinis really need a fairly big area. I do have one mate who breeds them in a 36X36 successfully but with lots of cover., so I guess your suggested cage size would be fine. You know,Red Faced Parrot Finches are super active and they are kept very successfully in 36inch cages so no reason why it would not work with these guys I suppose. I know the test for all the active species kept in flight cages is: if the feathers get tatty, increase the cage size.