Aussie Finch Forum

On the 28th of October I bought a pair of Crimsons for a cheap price from a man that was knocking down his aviary and his house.
As you all remember when I bought my first 2 pair of crimsons, all the Experts came out and gave me a lot of advice and even called me inexperienced, when a pair died.
The experts suggested that the Crimsons are Pugnacious and likely to kill anything with red feathers. Well how do you explain that this morning the 17 November 2014
I found my new bought Crimson male SCALPED and dead. I only ever once saw him have a beak to beak with a Song Sparrow on the second day in the aviary when he landed
on the Sparrows nest. Apart from that he has been examplary. The aviary is full of Redface, Gouldians, diamonds and other odds and sods. Yesterday was a cold wet day in Melbourne
and apart from feeding the birds at 7 am, I stayed indoors. Otherwise I am always out in the aviary area keeping an eye on things.
All I can ask is, why do so called experts perpetuate a myth that they would have read about in some old finch book about this particular bird.
The other pair that I have in the other aviary with Emblemas, Fire finches, Red Siskin, Tri colour Parrot Finchs and others have been model citizens. I have already found another cock bird
to replace it. So we move on, and if anyone on the forum wants to see the evidence its in my freezer.
All I can say is GO FIGURE. As my mother use to say to me " how can you be lucky when your Father died when you was 5 years old". We carry on.

Not knowing to which experts you refer, I will reply thus:

If you state that NO Crimsons are aggressive . .

or

If you state that ALL Crimsons are aggressive . .

You are guilty of 'peddling myths'



There is ample balanced comment on these beautiful finches and their behaviour within the confines of AFF

Have to agree with Arthur. To say its ALL a myth is a myth. Temperament obviously varies between individual birds and "families" within each species. However, it is ignorant to not at least take on board the spoken & written experiences of others when starting with a new species. Not all of it is based on 2nd hand hearsay. Far more than one possibility as to the scalped dead Crimson. I'm happy to hear yours are relatively placid compared to many others. That certainly makes their keeping less problematic.

The only scalping I have experienced is with either quail, Either males on each or over sexed male on females. Or a possible outcome that may have happened to your new male has had a fright and scalping on the wire roof ? Only you have all the details and info and unfortunately with keeping finches as you would know, there are many questions we cant answer.

Even "experts" can get it wrong. But its still somthing to strive for.

expert (ˈɛkspɜːt)
n
1. a person who has extensive skill or knowledge in a particular field
adj
2. skilful or knowledgeable
3. of, involving, or done by an expert: an expert job.
[C14: from Latin expertus known by experience, from experīrī to test; see experience]
ˈexpertly adv ˈexpertness n

I got my first pair of Crimsons recently as well. I've watched them closely and theres no denying (In my aviary anyway) that they are the dominant birds. Whilst they are dominant there has been no signs of aggression that I haven't seen before in say a dominant Gouldian cock. The breeder I got them off said he has never had an issue with their aggression but was quick to state their temper can change as soon as breeding commences (He colony breeds them). It's funny to watch really, the hen Crimson runs the show when it comes to aviary and bosses others when she pleases whereas the cock is quite docile but as soon he flies anywhere near her she becomes extremely calm and any aggression shown prior stops. Amazing finches to say the least! hoping these guys have a few good seasons so I can get some Orange Cheeked waxbills in a couple of years.

I think it's fair to say that there was a problem with aggression in the early days, but you will find a lot of the aggression has been bred out of them today to a degree.

I heard of a guy who was so sick of this one cock crimson because it was so aggressive that he grabbed it and threw it out of the aviary only to have it fly back to another flight and start attacking another cock crimson through the wire from the outside.

First of all not all birds of a specie are aggressive or timid, there are the exceptions.
Secondly most inane myths are spread by people who have never experienced keeping the particular specie
but try to be important by giving unqualified opinions.
If a rumour or constant warning is about a bird/specie take heed but use common sense and be vigilant as it may
not be fact. Possibly their aviary set up may be a reason for a problem or no problems at all.
I keep Madagascar Weavers and because of my experiences in the past choose to house them on their own
yet I know of numerous people, past and now who have no problems keeping them in a mixed collection.
It's my choice but could be the wrong one, it's up to the individual.
Sadly we have to put up with instant experts in our hobby, they annoy me because in Aviculture you never stop
learning. Having been heavily involved in our hobby for 50 years I am still learning and changing with the times
if you don't then you are not doing your birds any favours. We have no experts, that includes Mike Fidler,
Russell Kingston and others, they are simply more experienced. They make mistakes but they are continually
learning and improving. If you don't believe me ask them direct.
For my penny's worth, read as much as you can, ask as many people who keep the specie for info. Then sit down and analyse
what you have picked up. Then make your common sense decision.

Hear, hear, E Orix. Everyone learns in there own way and time. Regards

I have to agree gommer and E Orix,the word expert should not be used on this forum as nobody is an expert in birds,well experienced in a specie/species maybe but still learning,
Everyone has their opinion,that's why we have a forum,if we have no opinion or questions we wouldn't have a forum so i find it a bit harsh when someone labels your opinion as expert just because you have success with the bird in question and you are passing on your experiences you have had/are having with them.
Imo,read every post,don't knock them but take what you think will work for you and try it,if it works for you that's great if it doesn't try another persons opinion or your own,every one does things different.
regards Craig

Even as one who has long abandoned the adage "Practice makes perfect", in favour of "Practice makes less imperfect", I am more than a little saddened, and somewhat surprised, to learn that there are no experts among our forum members