which way will i go survey

[shox]

All,
Would like to start a poll, survey on which finches I should get. I am currently under construction with my new aviary, hopefully completed by next weekend. I am undecided on which finches i will get to mix with my current collection. I have some in mind but finding it hard to finally decide. So i thought i will let the forum listeners decide. I am after three pairs but of different varieties. The aviary will be 6m x 2.4m and 2m in height. It will be lined with tea tree, hanging cylindrical wire filled with tea tree for nesting. There will be a varieties of plants also. The only live food i am able to provide is home farmed mealworms, I will also provide mosquito larvae. Some of the finches I currently have will live in this aviary those being, 2 pr emblema, 1pr pied RFPF, 1 pair fawn st helenas, 1 pr aurora, 1pr orange breast, 1pr ruddies. I have a licence so aussie finches fine. i do not wish cubans have bred them over many years. i feel my experience is above intermediate but not experienced in some of the more specialist breeds. I live in Sydney. Looking forward to your thoughts.

[E Orix]

Did you really mean Mosquito Larvae or Fly Lavae
I try to keep Mosquitos away from my birds in particular Painteds.
They seem to suffer bites to their toes and if not treated they may lose the toe all together.

[shox]

sorry typo meant fly i was typing too quick for my brain. no mosquitos near my birds.

[djb78]

Shox would suggest any speices of munia, but would think that would require 3pr for starters, plumheads are a good mix speices ,strawberries are also another nice bird but having ob's not a good idea. Stars are another good mix bird. Maybe a pair of siskins, or doble bars but they're the same as munias need a few pair. Would say cordons but have to be careful around breeding season with other birds with red. What were you considering?

[toothlessjaws]

do you intend on breeding your current birds? if so the aviary would best serve to hold offspring.

[Buzzard-1]

Maybe a pair of siskins,

I wouldn't suggest Siskins in a mixed aviary as they require a high fatty seed diet such as hulled sunflower seed and niger, your other birds will dine upon this and become fat as well as the cost related to all the birds eating this mix.

[Tiaris]

Sounds like your aviary will be already fully stocked. Strongly disagree that you need more than 1pr if breeding munias - ideal way to breed from them.

[shox]

Thanks for the input all, toothless I have a holding aviary attached thanks for the thought. I have never heard of aproblem with cordons and finches with red being mixed, can this be confirmed.

My prior thoughts to the post were 1pr cordons (still deciding between red cheeked or blue caps), 1 pr plumhead or pictorellas and Ipr of yellow beaked fawn st helenas.

In saying that I will probably change my mind when going to get the birds.

[Tiaris]

No problem with Cordons mixing. Red-cheeked would be a far better breeding prospect in your aviary.

[djb78]

Sorry shox, what I was meaning about the cordons is that in some cases during breeding season that the male cordon has chased quite regularly any other finch speices with red on the face, I have had a male do this- only one throat chased red faced stars but not the yellow. I might have been unlucky but since that time I always keep watch over any new cordons that I obtain or breed, I rather br safe than sorry. With that last male I kept him with 4 pairs of bengos and never had a problem since.