star finch breeding.

[Diane]

Hello - I've had my pair of star finches for a year now, in an aviary inside my birdroom, with a few other small mixed finches. They started to make nests about a month ago, great complicated affairs too - so when do you think they'll start to breed? And are they good parents? Anybody had any success with these?

[laurab]

Hi Diane,

welcome to the site. ;)

I'm afraid I have had no experience with Star Finches but I am sure someone here will be able to help out soon. :p

[Waxbillman]

hello Diane

i have never bred stars and don't have them anymore, these are lovely birds but i think are a casulty of the bengalese fostering days, there are many birds about that lack brains, mines used to lay and lay, and a friend of mine has the chicks kicked out or chewed up.
if they built a nest thn they are in breeding condition in theory, same rule as any finch, good varied diet with extra protein, when it gets warmer it should trigger them off breed.

good luck anyway

Matthew

[dave85]

hi diane,

i have a pair of star finches, had them for about 18 months - only just starting to show interest in breeding and my hen is sitting i think 3 eggs so far - so fingers crossed.

ive heard many people say they unreliable and not good parent rearers, so hence why many use bengies.

Im lucky in that i got mine from someone who parent reared them, so hopefully they'll do me well.

Just treat them as if you were rearing gouldians - no disturbance, etc

as my hen sits tight but if you inspect shes out like a bullet.

Thanks
Dave
p.s - mine are getting a mixture of seeds and dry eggfood at present and ive got the stars on eggs, goldbreasts laying eggs but wasnt sitting and african silverbills laying eggs everywhere! got a nest with 12 eggs in and a new one now with similar large amount eggs in.

[Strawblady2000]

Hi Diane,

Stars are something Im picking up this summer...so I've gotten some helpful tips from a few breeders.

Diet is the most important thing for getting them to breed. Upping protein rations, amino acids and calcium, in conjunction with temperature and environment tells them to get moving!

I've read live food isnt necessary...but I dont know if it is true. As with each species, there are good parents and bad parents...and any little thing can make a difference in whether or not they rear or abandon.

Diet and seclusion are about the only things you can do for them...the rest is up to them. They can be difficult...or you may get "beginners luck"...both happen all the time.

Fostering may be an issue to their parenting...but I dont think fostering is necessarily the issue. I do believe the fostering leads to IMPRINTING problems. And it's the imprinting that can lead to social and breeding issues later on. It is imprinting that is what makes "parent-raised" chicks such a desired thing...aside from being natural, lol.


Oh, and here is a link to info on stars. It also has other links at the bottom of the page. Not sure if you've seen this page yet, but I thought I'd post it anyways.

http://www.finchinfo.com/species/star.htm

[Diane]

Very many thanks for all your helpful info. and link. Excellent.

I'm providing them with everything listed and I won't disturb them - so will keep my fingers crossed and see what happens. .