Do you know your new birds

[bigal47]

Hi one and all.
You may think that whats he waffling on about now!!!
Just think about it how many times do we get a question like" I bought a pair of oooo and can any body tell me what they eat?? or how large of a cage do you need.??"
I know some times the oppertunity to buy new birds is to great to think straight but STOP and think. Do I know anything about this breed of birds?? do I have room ??do I need them??.
If you are out buying birds or looking to buy alway take along you favorite reference book that will tell you some of the basic things you need to know about the bird in question.
We use to keep british birds and I was out one day and came across a breeder that had bought 2 pairs of yellow hammers he had tried to breed them with no success. I was able to get both pairs cheap and breed with them only because I had learnt in the past that they needed to be in there own avairys each pair ,not close together as they are very territorial, they need water running if possible, plenty of coverage to hide and lots and lots of live food and a variety including ant eggs to rear there young they nest low as well.
If you are buying bird from a breeder you don't know ask lots of questions like why are you selling ??and what do you feed then on ??and can I have some of the seed you use??,if they have breed what soft food do you use??. All these questions will enable you to keep your new birds good and healthy until you are able to change there feeding habbits to your way of feeding.
Allan
Always remember that a good healthy feathered friend is a live one.

[chris]

Hi Allan,


Some good advice there! i tend to do a lot of research before i buy anything, but it wouldn't be the first time i've seen something at the local and though "that won't be there tommorrow", last time i did it i ended up with a "pair" of weavers, which later turned out to be 2 cock birds of different species. still, i did already know the basic requirements to keep them just made an easy mistake where dealers miss label birds. i was actually told on purchase that they had been bred from earlier in the year.......:-x

still, i won't be making that mistake again

Chris:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Allan,

I'm at the point now that when I buy a new pair of Birds I offer everything I can think of to possibly meet their needs.
I have discussed with a few people (including dealers) what they feed Canaries and then ask what they feed Foreign Finches (including Serins etc), the answer is usually Foreign Finch mix.
The answer should be Foreign Finch and Canary Mix, and even possibly British Bird mix.
I know of British Birdkeepers who feed Foreign Buntings etc on the same mix they provide for the British Finches they keep, and others who keep the same Birds on the Foreign Finch mix they feed to various Mannikins and Waxbills they keep.

We in the UK tend not to experiment with the feeding of our Birds, because a book printed in the 70's states that Green Singing Finches feed on Foreign mix we take that as gospel, the fact is that Green Singers may also take Canary diets etc.

Paul H.:wink:

[kenny]

hi paul

its the rape that makes all the difference you dont get any in foreign finch mix but you do in canary and british usually black,brown and rubsen.also it makes great soaked seed.on the matter of feeding and so on as you may know my father in law gave me my first pair of birds providing that i first read every book on the subject before he gave me them and i have always done the same thing whatever i was going to buy i first read up on it .i dont impulse buy anymore as i have been stung a few times doing exactly that.

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

I'm glad you mentioned the reading up on a Bird before you buy it, over the years I have relied more on Bird books that cover the Species in the Wild rather than in Captivity.
My main reason for this is again due to the regurgitated information in most of the Bird books we read that cover their care in Captivity, Finches and Sparrows (Clement, Harris, Davis) is an excellent book that covers quite a few Finch Species both Common and Rare in Captivity.
The book describes the Habitat that the Birds are found in, feeding habits, whether the Birds are found in pairs, loose flocks or if they are found in larger flocks containg other Species and more importantly how their behaviour changes during the breeding period (and when this occurs) etc.

I think you will find that you will stand a far greater chance of breeding a Bird Species if you know the Habitat that they are found in in the Wild, their feeding habits etc, than if you read one of the many David Alderton books that are churned out on an annual basis (no offence Mr Alderton if you ever happen to read this:neutral: ).

So if you wish to learn what your Birds really need, read a Field Quide!!

Paul.:wink:

[Waxbillman]

one of the 3 best books you can buy on finches, is one done by the famous Australian breeder Russel kingston, it has also British contributors such as John Dodwell who is the secretary of the Waxbill finch society and a very knowledable man. this book, (finches and sparrows i think) is not easy to get hold of and it certainly isn't cheap but it is sure worth it, and an ideal crimbo present. i have got mine on order via Colin Mitchelson, the chairman of the WFS, for £38, the copies are signed as well, i am looking forward to getting it.

matthew

[laurab]

I have been a typical woman in the past and have been an impulsive buyer, these days if I see something I want I don't just wade in, I do my homework. ;-)

i find out what I can in print, but I do think that the internet has more to offer in the way of up to date info...don't you?

[kenny]

hi matt
i have had a pocket sized book that is over 20 years old at least and it is simply called cage and aviary birds i dont know the author as my kids used to play with it when they were small and they tore out the first 3 pages and my little girl covered it in brown paper and wrote the title on when she was five but she didnt put the authors name on and after all this time i havent the heart to take it off but this has every bird that you can keep in an aviary from a to z you name and its in here its like my bird bible.



ken

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura,

yes the internet is certainly a brilliant resource, but call me old fashioned but i would rather have a good book or two along side internet.

ken

sounds interesting, let me know if you ever find the auther

matthew

[kenny]

hi matt

thats a definate as soon as i do i will let you know

ken

[kenny]

hi matt
this is what the pages are like and there are 250 all like this one

ken
http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=91&stc=1

[kenny]

hi matt i found it,its by richard mark martin,and illustrated by malcolm ellis size of the book is 7.5 x 4.5 inches

ken

http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=93&stc=1

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

I'm glad you have enjoyed the only book I have published, Cage and Aviary Birds it was published when I was only ten years old, my experience was so great after only two years.
But the publishers forgot to include my experience of breeding the Dodo, Great Auk, Moa, Carolina Parrakeet, Ivory Billed Woodpecker and the Thingymajig Finch.

Paul.

[kenny]

hi paul

you forgot the oozalum bird,ihave bred mate

ken

[Waxbillman]

lol,

thats book looks great for identifying birds.

matthew

[kenny]

hi matt,
its never failed me yet and has some great waxbill drawings in it aswell the best thing i like about it it always shows what the female looks like aswell and in species like weavers it is essential

ken

[jimmy]

So thats how you do it quizmaster :)

[kenny]

hi jimmy.

all the ones you have been putting on are birds that are mostly found in the wild if you put your glasses on and look at the front of the book it says cage and aviary birds,but i can tell you that is not where i am getting the answers from its from my huge cranium type head just call me mekon,

ken:grin: :grin:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

You don't have to explain mate, we all know you are a true genius when it comes to Birds!:grin:

By the way Ken, is mekon short for meconium?:lol:

Also Ken, I have the Book you mentioned before it is a good book, but as I say you can't beat a good Field Guide.

Paul.:wink:

[kenny]

hi paul

i suppose its great for finding feilds then

ken

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Ken,

I find it quite difficult to find feilds, but it is much easier to find fields.

Paul.:grin:

[jimmy]

Paul,

Please see previous posts on kennys spelling :) :)

[kenny]

hi jimmy

i told you before its my sausage like fingers i need keys that are at least six inches wide.

ken:grin: :grin: