Welcome Swallows

[finches247]

I am thinking off trapping and keeping some Welcome Swallows

I want to try keep and breed some in captivity

I know they require livefood and mud for there nests.

What other food they like

I was going to keep them in an outdoor aviary on own.

Has anyone else kept them and maybe breed them.

They are NOT Native to New Zealand

[Jayburd]

Hmmm they are very air based, tiny little feet, they spend most of their time on the wing - I imagine a source of flying insects would be required...
Also they are usually found around water sources - a large pond or pool perhaps?

[Tintola]

They would have to be one of the most difficult softbills to maintain in captivity. As Jayburd stated, they are very air based and wild caught adults are extremely difficult, if not impossible, to convert to a domestic diet. Taronga Zoo and other zoos have maintained them in large aviaries and even bred them but these birds were hand raised young that were taught to take non-flying food from weaning, mainly mealworms and bush flies and their maggots.

[finches247]

I think I'll give it a miss sounds like to much work to keep them alive.Thanks Tintola and Jayburd

[arthur]

You can cage a swallow can't you . .

BUT

Say it in reverse




Looks like you can't do either

[Tiaris]

I met a bloke in Perth last year with a Swallow in his large finch aviary. Looked very healthy & happy to me & caught mealworms thrown into the air. Fed mealworms, crickets & maggots I think.