Winter Feeding

[E Orix]

Lyn has asked the question do birds breed all year round.
The simple answer is yes for most finches that do not have an eclipse plumage.
In actual fact people living in areas with cold wet winters are in my opinion very very unwise to ever assist birds to breed then.
There are a couple of exceptions as the species actually are winter breeders,(Javas,Gouldians possibly).
People will come up saying that they have Cordons or some other specie with chicks on the perch but my simple comment is how many of your good breeding stock(hens in particular)have died from egg binding or other problems to get those few.
I learnt long ago that it is better to carry your birds through late Autumn and Winter then by Spring they are ready to go and you losses will be far less.
The rest period also builds up the condition of your breeding stock ready for a long Spring/Summer period.
Good breeding pairs need to be protected.