Weaver society.

[Waxbillman]

hello folks,

with the current interest with weavers, and the many attempts by people to breed them, i was wondering is there a weaver society about in Britain?, if there is i've never heard of it.

if there isn't have you lot though about setting one up?

as i'm sure i won't need to say of the benefits societies bring.

matthew

[chris]

Hi matthew,

if there is one i've never heard of it! i don't think there is one but i would almost certainly join should one already exist.

how would we go about setting one up? and who would run such a thing, i know i don't have the experience to run it lol, i've yet to breed any:grin:

Chris:?

[Waxbillman]

well i don't have any weaver's at all, but i can hopefully help on how to set a society up, as i am on the comitee of the waxbill finch society which was formed in 1991, so there are still some founder members left so i could ask them

lets see what weaver woman and man have to say about it.

matthew

[chris]

Hi matthew,


i've just had a search on the net and can't find anything along the lines of a weaver society, i have just E-mailed the SCA to see if they know anything and will let you know of the reply (if i get one..)

i like this idea of a weaver society though, it would definately help people out in search of cocks and hens as i know i've had no luck at all yet lol

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

thats what societies are there for, i don't know of any top weaver breeders though, is they any i wonder i only know of a few who have them with waxbills and the likes.

matthew

[chris]

i think david Holmes of feathered flyer has some experience with breeding weavers. red billed weavers if i remember rightly, maybe we should contact him for advice?

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

thats i good idea, though is he the one who live in Australia?

matthew

[chris]

i've just checked it, he has experience with grenadier weavers aka orange bishops. the article on them is interesting.

yes he does live in Australia, which could be a problem

Chris

[kenny]

hi chris why dont you try the a.f.s they must have weavers on there mate in fact there is a branch of a f s in solihull if that is near you


ken

[laurab]

Hi Guys


what a great idea! I would be very interested in this. When I first started breeding Weavers I could find very little info about them, which is one reason why I decided to write about my sucess, in the hope it might help others.

I am sure there must be hens and cocks out there surplus to peoples requirements.......I have more cocks than I know what to do with :oops:

[Waxbillman]

well if you want me to, i can find out whether it is possible to set a society up, and how we would go about it. may be we could be the first internet based society, world-wide then we wouldn't have to worry about publishing costs.

matthew

[laurab]

Thanks Matthew, I would be very interested to know what would be involved.

[Waxbillman]

i'll do some digging.

matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi all,

I think this proposal is a good one and I will post more later.

Paul.:wink:

[laurab]

How about Weaver & Whydah Society?

[Waxbillman]

thats a good idea, as both those species really need help

matthew

[chris]

Hi Laura,

yes a weaver and whydah society would be even better as both species are often from the same family of birds and are very closely related.

Chris:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi all,

I think this proposal is coming on very well, I do think it shoud be an International Society though, many of the breedings of Weavers and Whydahs have occured overseas, but Lauras UK breedings should also be considered.

I think so far from the breedings we know of, Laura Bryant and David Holmes sould be considered for key positions within the Society, David and Laura have both had breeding experience of the Grenadier Weaver and David has experienced breeding of the Pin Tailed Whydah also.

Research should be made of any other breeders of Weaver and Whydah Species across the globe in a search for other members of the Committee, then any open positions should be filled by others who wish to take part.

Paul.:wink:

[Waxbillman]

hello everyone, i am still waiting for a response from the man i e-mailed, as far a whydah's are concerned a few years ago a man gave a talk on the, at the waxbill finch society's northern branch meeting, may be i'll get hold of his name and number, as he was a very knowledgable man on the subject, and it had relievance, because as you know the whydah's are a parasitic species, and their hosts are various different waxbill species.

matthew

[Waxbillman]

hello again,

an update for you lot.

i have spoken the John Dodwell, who is the secretary for the waxbill finch society and he said that Regarding the Weavers. These are Estrildid Finches and therefore included in our Society's remit.
so perhaps your are to join us, and when you are in their set up a co-ordinater for weavers as there currently isn't one.

thanks the best i can do there.

matthew

[chris]

Hi matthew,

so what your saying is that the waxbill society covers weavers and whydahs already? but as of yet there is no-one to co-ordinate the weaver side of the society. if we were to start up a separate society for weavers and whydah, we would have to include waxbills somewhere along the line anyway as they are the host species for most whydahs anyway, therefore it only seems logical that the waxbill society has already got us covered:-P

if i've got you right then, can you tell me how to join matey:grin:
Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

hello Chris / everyone

you've hit the nail on the head, here, spot on you can find the full membership details on our website, which can be found at:- www.waxbillfinchsociety.org.uk (http://www.waxbillfinchsociety.org.uk/)
just click on the membership bit as there a printable copy on there. and if i remember rightly if you a younger than 18 membership is free, though sorry Paul and laura i think your abit past that age. :lol:
it only cost £10 a year, there is a quarterly magazine as well as meetings up and down the country, which is a strong point, especially in the northern branch (i'm the northern branch representetive by the way) and in the midlands, where there is usually good birds etc for sale.
now as for the weaver side of things it is very neglected to say the least, and so will need plenty of work from everyone who is interested, to get things up and running, such as articles, and a co-ordinater, for the co-ordinated breeding scheme, etc

anyway let me know whoever is interested in joining, so i can get in contact with John Dodwell to make further arrangements for you

matthew :)

[chris]

Hi matthew,


well i'm definately joining! i'm not 18 untill october so i think i've just got lucky :grin: i'll definately want to help out getting the weaver side of things up and running, however since i haven't bred these little beauties yet i wouldn't want to be on my own!

as for the weaver co-ordinator, Laura i reckon you should be the person for this:grin: as your the weaver breeder and the one that got me interested (whether intentional or otherwise)

just let me know how i can help out

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

thanks for Chris,

now then Laura, let me know if you going to join, and then i can, get the ball rolling, as regards to being the co-ordinater, if you want that is. :)

matthew

[laurab]

Hi Matthew

yep, you can count me in, but I will have to wait until I have next been paid to join:oops:

You will also have to let me know what will be expected of me.

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura,

i'll get in contact with John Dodwell again, as regards the weaver's, and co-ordinatering etc.

it'll be good to get you lot on board :) . and also there are members who have jacarini ficnhes, so you'll be able to get in contact.

matthew

[kenny]

hi all

i have just found this photo dating back to 1980 when i had my weavers if you look close enough you can see 2 massive nests that the red bills had made

ken
http://www.feathered-friends.co.uk/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=115&stc=1

[laurab]

Hi Chris

I have just had a look at http://www.waxbillfinchsociety.org.uk/ and you have to be under 17 to become a member free :razz: So I am afraid you are OLD enough to pay as well :smile:

[chris]

shhh, that was mean't to be a secret between me and matthew:-P

when i loaded up the page to join yesterday i noticed that it said under 17, not under 18 so yup i will be paying up. just means it'll take a while longer for me to join

Chris:wink:

[chris]

so,

who else is joining the waxbill society to get the weaver section off the ground. so far there's me and laura

Paul? Dave? Nigel? anyone else with weavers?

the more that join the better we can make this work

Chris:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

Talk about name and shame and guilt trip:roll:, sorry Chris I may have to attack a neighbours house alarm with a hammer very soon, it's been going off since 6pm and right now I'm far from pleased with the thought that my Birds (and my Old's) may not have a good nights sleep tonight.

Paul.:mad:

[chris]

Hi Chris,

Talk about name and shame and guilt trip:roll:, sorry Chris I may have to attack a neighbours house alarm with a hammer very soon, it's been going off since 6pm and right now I'm far from pleased with the thought that my Birds (and my Old's) may not have a good nights sleep tonight.

Paul.:mad:

Hi paul,

i didn't mean to name and shame or anything like that in my previous post, i was just interested in in whether others were going to join or if they were at all interested. sorry if i gave out the wrong impression:roll:

i hope the alarm didn't cause too much disturbance anyway mate,

Chris

[chris]

Hi Matthew,

i've checked out the various estrildid finches that you mentioned and weavers aren't under them:???: , infact weavers belong to a separate family: Ploceidae, whereas the estrildid finches are Estrildidae

are you still sure that weavers ar covered by the WFS society? as i'm not too sure now i've looked up the various families

Chris (what is going on with my font :lol: ):wink:

[kenny]

hi chris you are spot on there buddy its the old ploceidae (includes whydahs aswell)


ken

[dave85]

hey chris,

Whenever i get my hands on some weavers ill probably be giving it a go.

How much should i pay for red billed? as someone is selling for £25 a pair ?

Thanks
Dave H

[Gary]

depends dave near me they were 15 a pr

[Waxbillman]

Hello Chris

i don't unterstand it either mate,

but thats what he said.

matthew

[laurab]

I am still interested Matthew, I will fill out the registration form.

[Waxbillman]

great laura,

keep us updated on your strawberries please.

matthew

[dave85]

hey gary,

You decided if your going stafford or not yet?

Get in touch buddy
Thanks
Dave H

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi people,

Has there been any advance on the idea of a Weaver and Whydah Society?

If the WFS doesn't cover them, then maybe a new International Society is the way forward?

Paul.:wink:

[laurab]

Hi Matthew, I will certainly keep you informed of my Strawberries :wink:

Whilst I am very excited about the Strawberries breeding, I am very seriously considering sellin ALL my Waxbills.

The reason for this is the cost of keeping them warm in winter. I only have oil filled rads and it cost me and my hubby loads of money last winter.

So watch this space if you are after Waxbills, unless you can suggest a cheaper form of heating.

[kenny]

hi laura

how about heating tubes,they come in all sizes from 2ft up to 8ft and they are a lot cheaper than oil filled rads i think they are still 100watts a ft so a 3ft would be 300watts so is that cheaper than your rad,you can even get them doubled up so there are a lot of permutations of heat 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 ,12, the last one is just over a killawatt wich if i am not mistaken is the lowest setting on conventional heaters

ken

[Waxbillman]

hello Laura

well Ken has taken the words right out of my mouth, it would save you alot of money just heat a smaller area. Strawberry finches are tough buggers anyway, i can survive on just low heat if you are prepared to take that chance.

anyway i have a comitee meeting tomorrow so i will ask John Dodwell about it.

the i still think my original idea of setting a weaver (and whydah, thanks whoever mentioned it) society up, is a good one, as there certainly is not one
may be they are connected with the WFS as the whydah species paracitise (don't know how it is spelt) many of the species that we definately cover.

matthew