Aussie Finch Forum

Hi,

I have a small aviary (2,5 metres length, 1,5 width and 2 metres height).
How many pairs of painted firetails can I put in?
Will they disturbe each other in the breeding season?
Or is it better for a single pair?

By the way, it's a planted aviary.

Thanks.

Ivan with that size about 3-4 pairs should be fine. I breed mine in a colony and have no issues.

Thanks

Danny,

Do all the pairs breed in a colony, or only the dominant pair?

One clutch of young from each pair & you would have a crowded aviary. Painteds are not a cheap & common bird in Europe are they? I'd go for less birds in the aviary to make the best use of the breeding pairs.

Ivan all pairs breed for me there's no real dominant pair, but the more dominating pairs do get the best spots for nesting.

to Tiaris:

They're not cheap & common in Europe at all, indead.

For the moment I've got 1 pair, but I hope to find another pair in the future.

I would be very pleased with 2 breeding pairs in my small aviary.

to Danny (and others):

What kind of nesting spots do I have to provide? No nestboxes I think?

Ivan with nests I have found mine to be picky at times and others not so picky. I give a varied types to give them the best chances to find somewhere to breed. The most popular spots are from hip to head in height and mostly they love to build in brush. Mine have also bred in cane baskets larger type, gouldian neat boxes, small finch boxes and even in a Canary nest pan. I believe that if you place a few different types of nests in there even for a pair you'll find what type they prefer. This is one factor but nesting material is another where they can get picky also. I have found that they love sticks of a thinish type with bark and charcoal also well loved, along with the basic of grasses and feathers also. Ivan I have found that one pair or a colony of ab3+ pairs to be better than two so if a second pair was to be brought you can try them in the 2pair breeding or a a single pair pair. I hope you have good luck and ask away with anything else.

Thanks Danny,

You gave me a lot of usefull information.

In Belgium, it is very difficult to get or to find that kind of information.
There are not many painted firetails over here and most of the breeders try to breed them in small cages.
Mostly it ends up badly, no succes at all.
I 'll want to try it in a (small) aviary next spring and summer, because now the summer over here is almost at its end, and winters are to cold and to wet. The young emblemas will stay inside for the winter, and in late spring I will give them the space and conditions they deserve. Your advice is very welkom.

Thanks again.

Ivan I'm am glad I have helped. I've tried breeding in cabinets and have had a few young not many compared to an aviery. Even if you have one pair if they breed and you have some young well you have some bartering chips to help with the next pair. Good luck.