ST Helenas waxbills

[chris]

Hiya Matt, i'm hoping you can help me out here:grin:

i'm considering building a 6' long flight cage inside my shed during the end of this year/beggining of next year and hope to house and breed waxbills in it, just the one species though. the dimensions of the cage to be are 6' long, 2' deep and 18" high, and will have runners placed in to allow division into 4 18"x18"x24" cages for breeding purposes. I'm not planing on providing heat (at least not all year round) but wil have a few full spectrum tubes in there for extra daylight hours.

Now, my questions:-) :

1)would this arrangement be suitable for keeping and breeding ST Helenas waxbills?

2)if so how many pairs would it be possible to breed in a cage of this size, and would they need to be separated while breeding or are they quite happy to be mixed with each other in a colony?

3)If this arrangement is unsuitable, howso and what do i need to add to improve it?

4)is it of benifit to the birds to have a few pot plants inside the cage such as small ornamental grasses for nesting material, and possibly even a small/young passion flower in the corners strategically placed to grow around wicker nest baskets?

5) what diet do these bird require? my guess is foreign finch, mealworms, fruitfly, waxworm, greens. i understand waxbills need small seeds, what seeds do you suggest and in what quantity?

i think that's about if for my brain picking today, i've chosen ST Helenas due to their connection to Pin Tailed Whydahs. if i can breed these little guys then i'll be trying out the Whydahs the year after... not to say that i won't get these birds before then lol

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

hello Chris,

i'll need to plug my brain in now, not an easy thing to do

i will get back to youn later tonight, as its easier to do it in word.

Matthew

[chris]

no problem, i can wait:)

i didn't realise it would be such a big answer that it requires word though

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

sorry chris

Matthew

[chris]

Hi Matt

Nothing to be sorry about! i did ask a fair few questions:)

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

Hello Chris



I have never myself kept or bred these birds, so what I say is fairly commonly known,



would this arrangement be suitable for keeping and breeding ST Helenas waxbills?

The length sounds very good to me, the depth should also be fine, however I don’t think it would be high enough, as height is very important and often over looked, however having said that st helenas do tend to nest near the ground but still I would say a minimum height being at the very shortest 2ft or 3ft.

.



if so how many pairs would it be possible to breed in a cage of this size, and would they need to be separated while breeding or are they quite happy to be mixed with each other in a colony?

in a 6ft flight probably about 3 pairs or so would be best to prevent too much trouble, but again that’s a 6ft by 3 flight. May be Paul might know.

St helenas can be housed in the colony system, like red-ears.



this arrangement is unsuitable, howso and what do i need to add to improve it?

increase the size if you possibly can Chris.



is it of benifit to the birds to have a few pot plants inside the cage such as small ornamental grasses for nesting material, and possibly even a small/young passion flower in the corners strategically placed to grow around wicker nest baskets?



The birds will definitely need as much foliage as possible, as they usually construct their own nests, they love grasses. You could try passion flower, as well for generally giving them cover but they actually like thickets sort of thing to build in.



what diet do these bird require? my guess is foreign finch, mealworms, fruitfly, waxworm, greens. i understand waxbills need small seeds, what seeds do you suggest and in what quantity



diet same as I usually write ….



During the breeding season your waxbills should have access to a good eggfood which can be fed either dry or moistened with grated carrot or water. The waxbills should also be fed on live foods such as white-skinned mini-mealworms, buffalo worms, and fruit flies. Live food should be fed is small amounts until the eggs have hatched, when larger amounts will be needed.

Giving your birds vitamin supplements is optional but a very good idea, especially if your birds are to be kept indoors. Vitamins can be given in either powder form or liquid form to add in the food or water. The birds with benefit being given a calcium supplement, as it will help in egg product, and may prevent egg binding which is a big killer.

The birds should also be give small amounts of green food such as cress or milky grass seeds collected from a clean source.

During the non breeding period the birds should be fed on a staple dry seed diet, grit with a small amount of eggfood every few weeks. The waxbills should also be offered millet sprays, red Anjou being their favourite; these sprays can be hung up in bunches and giving extra interest for the waxbills.

It is of special importance to feed bunches of half ripe grass seeds, and millet sprays during the breeding season especially when the chicks have fledged and are being weaned



The very best seed mix I have found on the market is Pro-birds African waxbill/finch, it is specially formulate and makes the bog standard mix luck crap.

Double dutch also do a similar mix.



Good luck chris anyway



Matthew

[chris]

Hi Matt,

thanks for that, i think i can make the flight 2 foot tall also, 3 foot is a definate no go as it will be going through the roof at that height.

that's helped a lot, thanks

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

no problem, good luck with what ever you decide

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

Matthews reply on housing diet etc was A1, but along with Matthew I haven't kept this Species of Waxbill myself.
I would say though that your proposed housing would certainly be ideal for one pair of St Helena Waxbills and possibly two pairs?

Your best bet on breeding from more than one pair will depend a great deal on providing ample cover and nest baskets/boxes at eitheir end of the flight to avoid conflict from the two pairs.

When I bred my Orange Cheeked Waxbills on a colony system years ago, I made the mistake of placing cover and nest baskets/boxes at the far end of the aviary only, this meant that the pairs could only breed on a rotation cycle.

Nesting cover for inside flights may not need living Plants, Conifer cuttings placed in tubs containing a moist Peat and soil mixture will keep them green for quite a long period, but if as you say you will provide Full Spectrum lighting then live Plants can be included.
I would suggest well grown on slow growing Conifers, Box or Dwarf Grasses for this purpose.

I will also add the fact that providing your choice of Foreign Finch mixture soaked as well as dry will be of importance when chicks are being reared and the same goes for Pannicum and Red Anjou Millet sprays.

Paul.:wink:

[chris]

Hi All,

thanks for the info, only problem i have now is that i've just measured up and there is no way i can make the cage 2' tall, the most i can make it is the original dimensions of 18" tall x 2' x 6':-?

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

hello Chris

give it a shot while you can, sthelenas are easily available at low prices now so its got to be worth a try, like Paul say 1 or 2 pairs.

Matthew

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

I'm sorry if you can hear an echo,:lol: give a go mate! :grin:

Paul.:wink:

[chris]

Cheers,

i'll give it a go, first things first though i've got to finish the thing it's sitting ontop of first- the vivarium, livefood cupboard, and storage cupboard underneath all that:neutral: i'll see about getting 2/3 pairs of ST helenas early next year as i don't yet have any heat source in the shed to overwinter any, this also gives me a chance to get the bloody thing built first:lol:

the reason for 3 pairs is simply to ensure i get at least one true pair and not a load of cocks/hens as i don't think i'd be particularly good at sexing them in a shop

Chris:wink:

[Waxbillman]

Chris

they can be sexed fairly easily once caught up.

sounds like you are going to be really busy, if theres any for sale in the society i'll let you know, as i am well known to be able to find many different birds. mainly because i'm a nosy bugger :lol:

Matthew

[chris]

thanks Matthew

it's good to know a nosey bugger, well it can be:lol: :lol: :lol:

Chris:wink:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

If Matthew can find you St Helena Waxbills via the WFS, then this will be an obvious bonus.
But if not then the best way of sexing St Helenas will be that cocks show more of a deeper pink area on the abdomen, stronger barring and a black vent. Hens either lack the pink or show only a small area of pale pink on the abdomen, slightly less obvious barring and the black vent isn't present.

Paul.:wink:

[chris]

Hi All,

all going well i should be picking up a few pairs of St Helenas from matthew this wednesday to get me started. they will be going outside into the aviary for now untill i have the indoor flight built, which i can't start untill my dad shifts his chicken from the hospital cage!

the cage ontop of the vivarium idea was a no go, but the indoor flight should be plenty big enough for winter housing being 5 foot long, 3 1/2 foot wide, and 6 foot tall sloping to 8 foot in the centre. also heat will definately be provided as i need to keep the shed above 10'C so that the vivarium heaters can cope for the geckos. infact the problem is going to be keeping the shed cool given the current weather. i can also see an opportunity to overwinter a few banana plants here...:-P

i dare say i'll have some form of full spectrum lighting in the indoor aviary upon completion also so i will be trying a few climbers and pot plants (bananas... :lol: ) in there for cover and breeding purposes

Chris;)