Aussie Finch Forum

Yesterday was a good day as I discovered a baby Gouldian flying (crashing) around the avairy.

So far this summer I have 1 fledgling each from my Africans, Gouldians and BFPF.

Should I be concerned that they have only raised 1 offspring each?

Or should I be happy that they are healthy, larger than their parents, and from first time parents?

If you raised one bird in the off season for breeding that's fine, especially when the first clutch is brand new to you and the birds. Just make sure you have the right amount of nourishment, light and temp for them next time around.

Nova,

You have a baby gould this time of year? I wont even put in my boxes until at the earliest February. Everyting is still in moult and the hens beaks are still clear. Wow.

Ken.

Feeding soaked/Sprouted seed mate ?
Could be that they're lacking in their dietary requirements ... I used to feed out 50 odd seed heads a day of GP , GG , Millet and Red panicum and in winter , veldt oat and winter grass ... and then sprouted seed mixed with a blend of essential minerals and vitamins .
Also are you feeding live food ?
I would increase the availability of green seed and live food and I reckon you'll have more success .
I bred all year round in even the harshest conditions without issue , it all depends on the seasonal grasses .
My colony had access 24/7/365 and had success with even the hardest to breed species... to the surprise of many who visited , (you saw my set up , hardly the taj mahal) it all comes down to nutrition and accessibility to the specific dietary requirements of each species that you're housing
Good luck with your breeding , with all this hit and miss weather we're having I'd say most Perth Metro breeders are having problems .... boiling hot one day freezing the next

Perhaps I spoke too soon. Found 4 new BFPF on Friday. Though one is the runt of litter as it cannot fly and is missing feathers from his shoulder and neck.

I feed as much green seeds as I can grow/find. My newly appreciated garden weeds etc give me enough green seed to give a bunch every 2-3 days, otherwise I drive around looking at the local parks and road verges. But they are starting to dry up. Otherwise I give them mealworms and fresh greens (leb cucumber etc) everyday. I have tried fly pupae with mixed success. Apparently they don't like the fruit fly version.

I need to grow/obtain some more seed producing grasses.

Exercise extreme caution when collecting verge and park grasses as they are sprayed (council just did my verge last week)
I'll get some grasses going for you if you like mate , have the following seeds , Johnson , green panic , veldt oat just to nane a few and a lone pot of guinea grass that I'm waiting on seeding up for a harvest to boost the seed bank .
Grasses you got from me not producing ?
Bare in mind they're gross feeders this time of year , I was going thru a bottle of Charlie carp every month ! And dynamic lifter to boot
Give me a call or txt during the week and I'll get some going , no good maybe for this season but next year you'll have a bumper crop

I spoke too soon. Last week two Painteds appeared and this morning I found two Africans enjoying the morning sun. So I now have 4 BFPF, 3 Africans, 2 painted and 1 Gouldian juveniles. Given that my Plumheads appear to be sitting on eggs and both the BFPF and the Painted are back in the nests it is starting to get a little crowded. The second avairy needs to be built soon.

Not a good start to the new year.

Over the last few days I have lost both painted young and one African.

All three looked healthy and were being looked after by their parents, who are still looking for the dead ones.

Two appeared to have small wounds on the side of their head but no visible wound on the third.

I don't think it is their respective parents as the odds on both Africans and Painted killing their young seem long.

I don't think it is any other animal as none were eaten.

I have handled them but that that was days before this happened and the parntsw ere still feeding etc.

All four have been on the floor of the avairy hopping around getting ready to fly. I even saw both painted fly a few meters.

My main suspects are the three king quail. I have never seen them be aggressive and they either ignored the young or went around them but I am lacking any other suspects.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I'd suspect the quail too, as both Painteds & Ruddies spend much of the first week on or near the ground.

Yes i would say the Quail also,another reason, imo that Quail and finches are not a good mix. Craig