Strawberry Finch

[Ldywlf]

Was wondering if anyone has ever had to trim a Strawberries beak? My male I noticed looks like he has a ducks bill at the moment. Anyone ever seen this? Just curious. My first time with Strawberries, I love them.:-)

[Waxbillman]

hello Roxie

they do occasionally get beak or toe problems. beaks can be trimmed just as easily as toe nails, just make sure you or a friend hold the bird sucurely, cut them at the the right angle and make sure its in line with the other mandible.

matthew

[Ldywlf]

Thank you so much for you information Waxbillman....I think I'll need a professional to do this as I've never done it before. Well at least I know now that I'm not seeing things and this can be taken care of. Thank You again:-)

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Roxie,

Are you a member of a Bird Club where a member could trim the Birds beak for you, but also to show you how it should be done without harming the Bird?

If not how about a Pet Shop where the same can be done? If not I guess you will have to pay a Vet a huge fee for doing this for you:grin:.

Sorry Chris:wink:.

Paul.:grin:

[laurab]

I am glad you mentioned the toe problems Matthew as I have noticed my Strawberrys toe nails are overgrown already! I trimmed them before I let them out into the aviary only a couple of months or so ago!

[PAUL HEARN]

Hello Laura,

I would suggest you provide a mixture of perch thicknesses for your Birds, I use perches that are very fine, perches that are perfect for small Finches/Waxbills and perches that would be adequate for Thrush sized Birds.
The object of this, is to exercise the Birds feet and their claws, with the hope of avoiding overgrown claws on these Birds, but as sometimes happens with some Birds, in particular Mannikins etc, is that despite our efforts their claws will continue to overgrow.

In these cases all I do is to trim the claws before and after breeding, but the best option is to use Natural perching with very hard textured bark.

Paul.:wink:

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura

paul is definatety right,

for Some reason certain avadavats are prone to these problems, i have found no problems yet with me captive bred stock, it for me is a wild caught pair that get all the problems.

matthew

[Ldywlf]

Thank you for the information that you posted....The vet won't cost much at all.....alot less than I thought it would. As for the bird club people...since I'm new and can't get to meetings I'm shunned big time.:-| And I do provide different types of perches. We have perches here, that I'm going to get, they call them," Cement perches".....so if the bird lands on it or wipes it beak on it it should help a little in keeping the beak and toe nails in shape. I'm just glad I noticed this.:-) Okay new sennario...how to do get Strawberries to start breeding again? And tricks or ideas? I thought mine would start in right away but maybe their waiting for their beaks to be done...guess the birdie makeover is first.:grin: Roxie

[Waxbillman]

hello Roxie,

is the male in his nuptual plumage?
what diet are they on? are they getting enough proteins, and seeding grasses etc?
one of my pairs refused to breed in the avairy, so i thought sod it, i'll put them back into their flight cage, and this did the trick straight away they picked up coco-nut fibre, built a nest have have now got chicks, so i can only assume that this pair were very timid and shy, i needed their' own space. the flight did do one thing for them though, make them stonking fit!! their like bullets now, so maybe you birds aren't fit enough, as that can stop them from breeding.

matthew

[Ldywlf]

Hi Matthew, thank you for answering:grin: . He is not in his male plummage. hen they went to nest the first time they went right into a molt, but sat anyway. I've beeen giving them molt, conditioning and color food, regular food, eggfood, greens, sprouted seeds and veggies. Trying to get them back into shape. They also need their beaks done. I do believe this to be very important. They also get some millet. They are coming back nicely into feathering, he does not have alot of red feathers yet don't know if he did to begin with. The man I got them from acted like they were a bad pair...I believe they needed more then he could give. They are in a flight cage with a nest and they do have cover. I just did that just incase...should I take it out? They are not even interested in it atm, let alone look at it.
Thanks again Roxie

[Waxbillman]

hello Roxie,
well if they are coming back into condition then keep it in, if not give them a rest, until they a showing real signs of interest, at this stage i usually put in a bit of nesting material if they start trying to nest, then i put everything back in.

matthew