Aussie Finch Forum

Just a general question,

I am thinking after this gould breeding season changing to something different. When I was a kid bred zebs, king quail and javas.( think late 60s early 70s). Had Longtails, Diggles, Chestnuts and heaps of others, no success in breeding, but afterall I was a kid. Just dry seed and water. Worked with a fellow in the constabulary many years later who had finches and was breeding heaps, told me the secret was sprouted seed. He didnt tell me the finer points, I thought it was like sprouting seed on cotton wool like we did at school. Thanfkully then I didn't have birds but the "sprouted seed" thing stuck in my mind. Then had a 30 year hiatus. My ex bought me a colourbond aviary for Christmas and I was lucky enough to have my local dry cleaner who told me the real go with sprouted seed. Took on goulds, painteds and stars, bred them all. Live food was bought in the form of mealworms, then found minis, not cheap but the painteds and stars, to my way of thinking did not really depend on them for breeding, just helped them along.

Now I am thinking of changing my species, looking at Diamonds, Orange Breast and Saints. I will keep a pair of Gould/Stars/Painteds but my quandary is live food. I have just started a mealworm farm but because of the cool weather not much happening at the moment. Hopefully it will pick up in time for the spring.

The question I am asking is: If I have Diamonds, Orange Breasts and Saints are they totally dependant on live food for the chicks? I feed out each morning sprouted seed, greens(dandelion/milk thistle and local grass) plus mini mealies (probably 30-40). Do they need sh.t loads or just a bit each day?

Thank you in advance

Ken.

matcho wrote:
The question I am asking is: If I have Diamonds, Orange Breasts and Saints are they totally dependant on live food for the chicks? I feed out each morning sprouted seed, greens(dandelion/milk thistle and local grass) plus mini mealies (probably 30-40). Do they need sh.t loads or just a bit each day?

Thank you in advance

Ken.

Ken with what you are feeding now i can't see that you would have a problem with those three species and the others you have. I would beef up your sprouted seed with a good vitamin/mineral and amino acid powder two or three times a week and as well as during the warmer months,copious amounts of seeding grass heads. I have in the last few years found that R & W Lowes frozen green french white millet is a great substitute for seeding grass during the colder months when my crimsons breed.
If the dry cleaner is the person i know,he will put you on the right track regarding the VMA powder.
Go for it Ken,can't hurt to give it a go. Craig

matcho, you should be fine feeding what you do already to these 3 new species.
the more common species are just that for a reason.....they are little battlers and will reproduce with minimal encouragement.
some Lebanese cucumber and a vinegar fly culture should be all you "need" to add in my opinion.
these 3 new species love to nest in the flight section, saints in the grass clumps and diamonds in any bushes so winter/rain protection would increase their chances of success.
live food when raising young will be relished but is not essential for the species you are looking at.
good luck with them.