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The Orange Bishop, also known as the Red Bishop or Grenadier Weaver is a member of a large family of weavers that originate from Africa. The weaver group construct ornate nests by weaving them from strands of grass and other similar materials. Weavers are polygamous, and if it is your intention to breed them it is advisable to house the cock bird with at least two or three hens.
During the breeding season the cock bird is very colourful with a thick orange ruff on the back of his head, around his throat and covering his chest, while his face and abdomen are jet black and velvet in appearance.
When in eclipse plumage he indistinguishable from the hen. The hen unfortunately is not colourful, but I still think she is attractive. She resembles a hen sparrow in colouring with a pale buff stripe just above her eye. She lays 3 – 6 eggs and will incubate them for 12 – 14 days. Housing These birds are not suited to cage life. They will do well in a large aviary with plenty of bamboo. Although, I would not advise you to give them your prize bamboos’ as they will soon be devoid of all leaves for nest construction purposes. I have also used Cotoneaster, privet and conifer bushes. Another good alternative to use is cut branches from conifer trees/bushes. I am sure you will see someone trimming back their trees, offer to relieve them of some of the branches, ok they will look at you like you are mad, but most are willing to let you have them as it is less for them to dispose of. Nesting Weavers will normally always construct their own nest, although there is always one that likes to prove you wrong, and I have had one that used a wicker dome basket. I have found that they will use hay, coconut fibre, raffia and pampas grass, but they love fresh long green stems of grass. I am lucky and live near a Council owned field, that is never sprayed with pesticides and is allowed to grow wild during the summer months. The cock bird builds an oval shaped nest and when completed he will hang from the nest and put on a display for the hen, if she doesn’t like it he starts all over again and builds another…. and sometimes another etc. Feeding Live food is very important if you want them to breed. I feed mine on mealworms all year round but the supply is vastly increased during the breeding season. They will also take wax worms, spiders, crickets, small locust and stick insects. They also enjoy a good foreign finch mix and the occasional helping of small parakeet seed. Also provided is millet sprays both dry and soaked, egg food, green foods such as chickweed, cress, lettuce (not cos), broccoli florets and the stem grated, grasses, herbs etc. Obviously water must be supplied. Footnote These birds are hardy and will tolerate our British weather provided they have cover and are free from draught. I have housed them with waxbills and have not encountered any problems with this, although I do have a large aviary; in fact the waxbills make good use of discarded weaver nests! If your aviary is not very large it might be best not to house them with smaller birds.
Laura Bryant
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