Breeding Programmes

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi all,

I will be posting my plans here very soon for my intended Breeding Programmes for a small selection of Asian Finches including the following,
Strawberry Finches, White Headed, Black Headed & Tri-Coloured Nuns, Spicebirds, Indian Silverbills & Timor Sparrows, as well as any other Finches, Nuns & Mannikins from Asia that you may have.

Another project will be aimed towards Jacarini Finches, although there are a very good number of people involved at present it seems that there is a major shortage of cocks of this Species. Other South American Finches will be added to the Breeding Programme at a later date.

The third Breeding Programme will be for the Madagascar Mannikin, with these Birds I'm quite surprised just how many breeders have these Birds at this moment in time.

A fourth Breeding Programme will depend on the success of Laura B & myself this year, this will of course be for the Grenadier Weaver!
As you may all know Laura managed a noteworthy breeding with these Birds from 2004 & into early 2005, if Laura & I can prove the sceptics wrong that it wasn't a one off then there will be a lot of people with egg on their faces (no pun intended, Honest!).

I know I seem biased toward Seedeating Birds in general, but Softbilled Birds will eventually be included in all of the above programmes in the future as will more Seedeating Birds.

Please contact me if you have any of the Birds mentioned above, even if you own single Birds that are in need of a partner, whether you would like to buy a partner or sell the Bird/s you have.
The same applies if you wish to add a Species not mentioned by myself you think should be included in the Breeding Programmes.

Many thanks, Paul. :wink:

[laurab]

:oops: :oops: You have embarrassed me with your praise!

[chris]

hi paul,

i often see various nuns and mannakins at our local pet shop, i can't remember the exact species that were available but are they all of the same temprement? the only reason i ask i because i've got a possible aviary extension coming up and if these species are peacefull then i may have a go.

one other thing, what are the chances of housing orange bishops with other weavers? my "pair" are no longer fighting ( i think it was a one off...) the aviary will be between 15 - 20 foot long when extended and well planted if this is of any help

cheers, chris

[laurab]

Hi Chris

With regard to your question about the Weavers, I personally would not house 2 male weavers together. When in breeding mode my male commands the whole aviary. Whilst he doesn't attack the other birds housed with him he can be quite intimidating towards them.
I think 2 male weavers would probably start fighting over the females.

[chris]

hi,

is this likely to happen with males of different species? or just the same species? i'm sure i've heard somewhere that if you have a large planted aviary and you house multiple cocks and hens together you get better results as the cocks compete with each other and try to out do each other's nests. i'm probably wrong :lol:

[laurab]

Hi Chris

I have also read something similar, my only worry would be that there may not be enough hens to go around :roll:

[PAUL HEARN]

Hi Chris,

I have a feeling you may have remembered this information on Weavers from David Holmes posts on the Flyer, he is of course right in what he says, but then again he does have Aviaries measuring the size of the smallest hall at the NEC in Birmingham. :lol:

Onto the subject of the Mannikins & Nuns at your local Pet Shop, most Mannikins are quite good in a mixed Aviary Environment, but some are not!
Please let me know which Species are available or more to the point which ones yo uwish to try in a mixed Aviary.

Paul.