Aussie Finch Forum

Recently I bought three Diamond Firetails only to discover they developed the taste for Crickets. I am already fighting losing battle with the three species of Parrot Finches eating Mealworms which nowadays are not readily available. Can anyone suggest a specie that does not eat Mealworms (or not as many) nor Crickets. I wanted to buy Red Strawberries but from what I've read they to eat live food, especially when breeding. Diamond Sparrows just like the "pigs of the aviary" Parrot Finches, don't exit the aquarium before they finish every single insect.
Something challenging and worthwhile breeding.

Gouldians - but perhaps the real challenge is keeping them alive

I dont feed my diamonds any live food and have found they bred very well for me ,i found they were very aggressive when feed live food,i do however supply a vitamin supplement,this works very well for me,hope this helps garyh.

The solution to your limited live food supply would be to build more aviaries so that you only supply live food to those that require it and only when they are breeding. In a single mixed species aviary there will be many non-breeding birds and if they develop a taste for live food it will come at the expense of those that have an obligate requirement for live food to feed their young. As Natamambo said Gouldians are just about the only species not to even bother trying out the live food if you can't separate your birds for breeding purposes.

Totally agree with Greg,as one of the reasons i pulled down my large mixed aviaries down and built specialist aviaries was the live food problems as well as the foods for softbills being eaten by others that don't need it and became obese.
Gouldians,Nuns and mannikans arn't that fussy on livefood when not breeding. Craig

don't exit the aquarium before they finish every single insect.

That's a challenge most finches would struggle with

Cheers
Brett

I thought about the Gouldians and now I just may try to find some pure non mutation stock if they still exist. Nuns yes, but when I had them they were compulsive lief strippers, my aviary plants are mainly Roses which I enjoy while in bloom just as much I enjoy finches, they also provide my small sofbills with lots of small insects like Aphids. As for building more Aviaries, definitely no, this is all I can handle.
Most Carduelan finches are OK, they don't eat that many insects but they are very territorial, I already have two species (Hooded Siskins and Goldfinches) therefore getting yet another specie would be counterproductive. Getting rid of Parrot Finches would almost be a "sin", they are almost perfect birds, anyone would want in their Aviaries, they are almost non-stop breeders producing up to 5 young per clutch, they are excellent feeders and parents and they alone have been paying for all the bird seed for all other birds, and I had them for nearly 5 years. They just could not possibly do any more to convince me to keep them. Therefore they are staying no matter what.
It's still winter, the Softbills will start breeding probably from the mid-July and they are also non stop breeders producing up to 5 young per clutch, after couple of clutches the young adults and their parents feeding yet another clutch in the nest can consume 200 crickets per day easily plus some mealworms plus soft food. Anyhow, I found an old freezer, will set up breeding Crickets, therefore for now Diamonds gotta go, will try replacing them with Gouldians. So you think Strawberries, Jacarinis are no good?

Netsurfer,what is the size of your aviary. Craig

crocnshas wrote:Netsurfer,what is the size of your aviary. Craig

Craig, I have eight 1x2x2 breeding aviaries just for the Carduelan species (they are territorial). The Aviary the Diamond Sparrows, Parrot Finches, Goldfinches, Hooded Siskins and Wrens are kept is 6.5 x 4.5 x 2.4. Another Wren Aviary is about 5 x 2 x 2. Birds are a little bit overcrowded in winter until I start dividing the young Siskins. At all other times I only keep the breeding pairs, the young are sold as soon as possible. I can't see the space is the problem?

Thats great Netsurfer,sounds like you have everything sorted so if the Diamonds are the trouble makers swap for some normal Gouldians,you might be able to get some from Mike Fidler before they all go to Camberra. Cheers Craig