munias & softbill question...

[Jayburd]

with a small possibility that my aviary might be extended to 3.6m2, would the following hybridize easily? I know they CAN, but WOULD they if kept in even pairs?

white headed Nun
Spice Finch

and also, can Orange Chats be housed with:
(starting birds)
red cheeked cordons
red faced parrot finches
long tails
spice
Saint Helenas

(finished collection)
Grenadier Weavers
Blue Caps
Red Faced Pytilias (or auroras)
white headed nuns
(spice?)

?

Just wondering, orange chats, spice and WH nuns are lovely birds, would love to get some. My basic plan is keep easier birds (my 'starting bird' list) and when those have all been bred a few times, move up to the 'finished collection' birds.

[E Orix]

Jayburd
You should know all Munias will cross freely.
Orange Chats are rare in Aviculture and should really only be kept by very experienced breeders.
The Crimson Chat is a far better choice,easier to aquire and keep. Beautiful bird to look at and it's demeaner is great.
Does not hassle anything,the only draw back is unless the aviary is very very large I wouldn't mix them with Quail and they are very insectivorous.
Personally they are miles ahead of Quail as an aviary bird.

[Jayburd]

so that's a no then. I guess it's spice's, would prefer if they didn't die out while I can still help it.
what's the difference between Orange & crimson? I know they're both insectivorous, etc. but why are crimsons easier than orange?
I guess I'll wait until my quails go then, love them too much to get rid of them.

[garymc]

Jayburd - having kept the Crimson, Orange and White fronted Chats, I have to agree with Orix that the Crimsons are by far the best aviary bird, the easiest to keep and cater for and generally the easiest to breed. The Crimsons can become almost like "chooks" .

As for keeping finches and softbills in the one aviary you need to be quite selective in what is housed together. Livefood for softbills needs to be just that (although if hungry they will eat dead stuff). Cordons may sit there and chew all the heads off the mealies, parroties easpecially red-face would sit there and eat worm after worm, get fat and neither they nor the softies would be succesful.

If you had acess to an unlimited supply of livefood - eg termites then it may work.

I do run finches with my softbills - double bars, red brows, red-earreds, crimsons and stars, but my main aim is to breed the softbills so if a pair of finches becomes troublesome (in terms of livefood destruction)then it is moved to another aviary.

[Jayburd]

yes, but why? do the others need something crimsons don't??
I do have access to termites, mealworms, and after a little convincing I'm 88% sure I'll be able to do maggots as well.

What softbills would you suggest for someone like me then? I have no previous experience in birds other than finches and quails. I'm looking into birds like Dotterels, silvereyes, blackbirds, chats, robins, wrens (not superb fairy), small doves (not diamond or peaceful) etc. etc.
I've looked at wood-swallows, stilts & scrub wrens but none are really in my ability range. I want something colourful, challenging (but not so much so that I have to buy a million fruits a week for example), peaceful & small. I would also PREFER it co-exists with quails, I have 6 kings.

Right now, I'd like one or other of the following PENDING FURTHER INFO:

silvereye
inland dotterels
orange chats (but apparently not, so crimsons I guess)
blackbirds (a bit big and heavy for my liking)
red capped/yellow robins
emu wrens, white winged fairy wrens (but I hear they are aggressive?)
superb/rose crowned fruit doves
some sort of honeyeater - but they have specialized diets so unlikely...

[Jayburd]

and I'm thinking of dropping parrot finches after the starter birds, they eat to much livefood.

Meanwhile, add to the above list:
Spotted Pardelote. Lovely birds, quiet, peaceful, not sure where to get them. Someone must breed them. Not TOO sure what they eat either. Probably insects...

[E Orix]

Jayburd
You are aiming for the clouds again.
Get the basic ones right then sit down and think what I like,what my wallet will stand,what my aviary set up can
manage and have I the time to put into the specialised species.
It's not easy and takes years to even get a foot hold with regard our hobby,get the runs on the board
and when this happens you will be amazed at what doors open and what asistance is out there for young bird breeders.

[Jayburd]

so what would be the most basic softbill that is colourful, easy to keep/breed yet a bit of a challenge, and co-exists with finches & quail?

[arthur]

Took the words right out of my mouth Orix

The first thing that any aviculturist needs to be aware of to be successful, is that an aviary is not Noah's Ark

Jay first species to put a big red line through is the pardalotes . . . and

In answer to your last Q., . . Try silvereyes

[Jayburd]

Yeah, I thought that'd be the response.
Silvereyes I guess That's what I've got to work with.
They are shy and secretive though according to my friend who's bred them a few times.