Can you pick me the perfect finch!?

[desertbirds]

Chats wouldnt be too hard to come by when your ready.As far as being a bit concerned when prices run into the hundreds,think of the returns $$$

[ecogreen]

lol, yeah I know what you are saying but after spending thousands on setting the whole thing up I will still then have to convince my husband that the cost of buying 2 finches for well over a hundred bucks is actually justified Sadly he doesn't tend to see things the same way as me there

That said I'll be running a small business on the property using the orchard(I'm a sustainability educator) so I can probably call it a business expense

[BENSONSAN]

If its hardiness your after chestnut breasted mannikins would run riot in there and they look nice. Better chouice then zebs i say.

[mickw]

Enviable project .......since you're putting so much into it, why not re-consider your "no-licence" policy........its not that big a deal and your list of options grows enormously......Your set-up sounds ideal for Wrens, Silvereyes, Robins even? etc........and with so much space and foraging opportunities, your workload may not be that high compared to keeping them in smaller, traditional sized aviaries where the owner has to provide most of the diet. ;)

Ditch the Zebs.......not really all that insectivorous, not really all that local to you there, and will breed like flies & overrun the place......Redheads (go for Normals at $30-40 a pair.........desertbirds, you make me drool with your success with lessers You've probably forgotten us "great unwashed" who cant afford them.

Chestnuts are quite cheap, use to range down that far, look quite smart

I would have Little Lorikeets and Purple Crowns in that aviary........but thats just me.........and probably buy my fruit at Woolies

Good luck, wish I were so bold

[Jayburd]

just to clarify, red heads = redbrows

[desertbirds]

I couldnt afford lessers either Mickw.I swapped about 30 Diamonds for a pair and paid for another.It just seems odd that people spend so much on building aviaries and then say $500 or $600 hundred is a lot for a pair of finches.Maybe im odd.Totally agree on having a licence as it opens up the options.How about letting a heap of youg Diamonds loose in there.Probably breed like zebs and offer a reasonable return. Its a dream of mine to have an aviary that big.

[ecogreen]

Actually admittedly I should have a license already as my research has just told me that something I kept off licence in vic(the kids blue tongue lizards) should now be licensed that we are in NSW I can't believe they licence blue tongues up here!!

I'll give NPWS a call on Monday and rectify that. I'm not too worried about the license and if that's what it takes to get the perfect bird I'll do it, I have aspirations of having a pair of major mitchells at some point so I'll need one for them anyway...

I'd love wrens but what is actually involved in getting your hands on them? My reading seems to suggest you have to show prior knowledge in order to get the permit and while I do have a degree in conservation(zoology/botany) my bird keeping previously has only really extended to parrots.

[finchbreeder]

Would be good if you did breed chestnuts or one of the Lonchura family, because to few people do and though they are in shades of black, brown, white and gray are beaut birds. Just remember, 1 type only cause they crossbreed too easily.
LML