Aussie Finch Forum

I am in a bit of a quandry...what are peoples thoughts...A very young beginner wants to start of with either RC Cordons or Blue Caps (Blue caps I dont have anyway)... my thought would be RC obviously but I am really not sure...as I would prefer her to start with something more suited to a beginner...what do others do...just sell them the birds no questions asked or do you screen those who buy? Dollars no problem to Dad....really dont like to sell to people who have no idea....

RCCB are one of the easier waxbills to breed as you can rear large clutches with mealworms being your only source of live food. As long as you give them information on housing requirements and diet they should breed them pretty easily (should they follow it). I personally think everyone should start with Zebs or something of the like. Not only are they a great bird to keep they are more forgiving than your other finches and a great lesson in genetics if you are into mutations.

I would never sell Bluecaps to an inexperienced aviculturist of any age. It is a waste of good birds' breeding potential and is setting them up for failure. Many experienced finch breeders can't kick a goal with Bluecaps so selling them to a young beginner is just not on.
I would say to them if they really want to breed Bluecaps, the best path to doing it is to first get some Cordons. If & when you can later breed Cordons well and have access to live termites, a warm & lightly stocked vermin-proof aviary then you are then ready to try Bluecaps.

Lachlan1 wrote:RCCB are one of the easier waxbills to breed as you can rear large clutches with mealworms being your only source of live food. As long as you give them information on housing requirements and diet they should breed them pretty easily (should they follow it). I personally think everyone should start with Zebs or something of the like. Not only are they a great bird to keep they are more forgiving than your other finches and a great lesson in genetics if you are into mutations.

I agree...but this is a very young girl (around 7/8yr doting Dad and she wants pale blue birds) do you think she would care for them properly? (personally I don't) ...I am totally in agreemnet with Tiaris concerning Bluecaps...just because they have money doesn't make for good aviary sense? I think I will decline and they will probably go elsewhere...so breeders be warned

I agree with Tiaris regarding blue caps,but RCC's are another specie up from beginners birds requiring livefood and a little more care than a beginner bird and if the breeder feeds termites the buyer will never get young out of the nest.

Another "blue" bird coming close to a beginners bird now are tri coloured parrot finches,minimum livefood and finch soft foods plus regular finch seed and greens will get them through to breed. Craig

Craig52 wrote:I agree with Tiaris regarding blue caps,but RCC's are another specie up from beginners birds requiring livefood and a little more care than a beginner bird and if the breeder feeds termites the buyer will never get young out of the nest.

Another "blue" bird coming close to a beginners bird now are tri coloured parrot finches,minimum livefood and finch soft foods plus regular finch seed and greens will get them through to breed. Craig

Yeah Craig..I showed her Tri Colours...she wanted the pale blue ones (RC Cordons) I would prefer to sell her those when I have some available but no...not what she wants..

Great question Vettepilot,

You are showing your concern for your birds and I congratulate you on that. Unfortunately if you don't sell them to her/dad they will go elsewhere and buy them regardless from bird shops/traders that don't give 2 figs who they sell them to. Just see what happens at bird sales, same birds, no questions asked, money exchanged, placed in decrepit carry boxes or open wire cages. Seen it.

I class myself as a fair finch keeper, breed goulds, stars and painteds. Want to have a go at Saints, orange breasts and other birds that require live food but I really am kidding myself in regards to their requirements and commitment. Sure, I do sprouted/soaked seed, greens and grains, dandelion daily and now I have 6 kgs of milk seed to get me through this season.

Maybe as it has been said in this post, explain to rich daddy that we all have to start with little steps, what these particular birds require in accommodation/aviary size/diet Crawl before we walk etc etc. Zebs would be a great way to start, active, prolific, have personality and are really easy to care for. I reckon you could breed them in a shoe boxed sized cage.Kids loose interest pretty quick especially when they come out in the the morning and someone ain't on the perch.

Matter for yourself what you do, but me, no, considering the effort and commitment you have made to get these particular birds to this stage for sale.

Just my thoughts.

Ken.

True Ken...but I like my birds to atleast have a good chance of survival...so I will decline their sale...

Dad with lots of money and a little girl for the time being focused on a pretty blue bird , sounds like she doesn't hear the word No often. A No never hurt anyone, character building

vettepilot_6 wrote: I like my birds to atleast have a good chance of survival...so I will decline their sale...

I say "No" to people who dont have the correct aviary set or ability to look after the birds they want. I feel our birds are hard enough to breed, especially Blue Caps, to let them knowingly go to a person who is illequiped to look after the birds, will not or does not want to breed them, lets the birds prematurely die or whatever reason you can think of is such a waste of our time, resources and the loss of the birds genetic viability just for a couple dollars.

matcho wrote:Just see what happens at bird sales, same birds, no questions asked, money exchanged, placed in decrepit carry boxes or open wire cages.

A similar situation to this happened to me on the weekend. After 20 minutes of talking to this couple, concerning every possible question about my birds, when I asked them for a bird box to transfer their birds into. They returned with a very very small open wire cage they just purchased from the trade tables vendors. I said 'No' and explained why the wire cage is not suitable. Then told the couple that they must go back and exchange it for a $10 travel box that is suitable for finches! The faciacal expressions of the people waiting in line to use the 'transfer cage' was worth a million dollars. Infact, another fincho said to me 'good onya AL that was great to hear you tell them No and explained why'. Just as we exchanged birds a teenager walks past carrying about a dozen quails and budgies in a open canary cage. I thought to myself at least I care what happens to my birds