Black Headed Weavers

[chris]

Hi All,

matthew bought these 3 down when he visited. we weren't sure what they were at first until i saw them for myself, although i can't be sure of the hen yet given the crap i've had with the vitellines...

anyway, here's some photos. the hen does look very similar to the lesser masked hen i have (although there are 2 different photos of lesser masked hens on the net, one has white eyes, the other has black and is more pale:roll: )

anyway, enjoy

Chris:wink:

[laurab]

Hey, they look nice ;)

[Waxbillman]

that picture doesn't do them justice at all they are dam nice, if a little fierce, biting wise

Matthew

[chris]

hi matt,

sorry to burst your bubble on the biting, my vitellines have a nastier bite:-P i'll be able to take some better photos once they're moved to an aviary as cages never do them justice

Chris;)

[kenny]

hi chris
despite the photos they do look really nice birds mate.


ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

It would be a huge shame if the hen proves to be the wrong species, but the photos of the cocks are a first for me mate, I have never seen these birds before.

Good luck with pairing them up, and hopefully breeding from them.;)

Matthew, you should be on the receiving end of a bite from a Grosbeak Weaver or even a Collared Grosbeak and then you will know how painfull a bite really is.:lol:

Paul.

[chris]

Hi Paul,

i'm hopefull that they are all the same species, i have seen a photo of these birds taken by another member and the hens look very very similar, as does the supposed lesser masked hen that i have although i'm begining to think it isn't and that the photo used to identify on the net is wrong as there is another one out there which shows very clearly white eyes, which this one lacks.

i've just been given the all clear for an indoor aviary:D and also am looking at dividing the outdoor flight once more so there will be 4 flights in all. i think the only reason i'm getting this indor aviary is due to nagging my dad for months and pointing out that if you hang a light from the roof it makes a better brooder than the cardboard box we use at the moment:lol: also he is getting an incubator so will be needing room to rear some chicks.

the bonus for menow is that the robin have their own flight, the napoleon weavers are with the red heads in their own flight, and the black headed weavers will soon have their own flight. the indoor aviary will be either used for the robins as an extension by leaving the bob hole open, or i might move the red heads in there depending on how things go. during the winter i can now move everything inside which i've been wanting to do for a long time now as it means the buds aren't eaten off the plants preventing them from growing back next year, and also gives the elephant grasses a head start!

the only snag with these weavers is that if i do only have the one hen of this species, then i'll probably have to remove one or both cocks if she ever lays eggs at least while she is rearing the chicks anyway otherwise they could cause trouble. finger's crossed anyway

Chris;)