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Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 06 Jun 2009, 18:21
by Mattyboy
Me - red cheeked cordon blue.
This species has almost everything - best of all, it's got that rare combination of looks and character. They're reasonably priced, easy to care for and a free breeder. Mine bred freely on mealworms and greens - no need for termites or a difficult feeding regimen.
The only slight downer is that I found they weren't great as a colony bird (perhaps unless you've got a really large aviary), and they seem to do much better as single pairs. They get on fine with other species though.
I hate the pied mutation that's arisen in recent years - it's fugly. In this case, how can you improve on what nature provided?
I give cordons 9/10.
I hope to give blue caps a go one day but I'm a bit put off by their apparent reliance on termites.
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 07 Jun 2009, 21:34
by gomer
For me Crimson finch,Personally i have found their reputation as an aggresive finch unfair.I have mine in a mixed collection with no problems so far.The male is a rather brillant bird especially in the sun.they are very active the male twitching his tail quite often when hoping about.They can be hard to breed,and the hens can be a soft,In the last couple of years i have lost three out of six hens in pairs bought.
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 07 Jun 2009, 21:51
by fincher
mine is probaly the yellow winged pytillia. there hard to breed. i like the inseity of the red and yellow of the cock birds. and then the call they make is like no other call i have heard its you can easily pick it from the rest. havent been able to breed them yet but i am hopping this year ill be able too
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 07 Jun 2009, 22:51
by Pete Sara
theres a few that hold a soft spot for me. gouldians ,stars and parrot finches but its the softies that have done it for me love the wrens but it has to be the scarlet robin the most....pete
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 08 Jun 2009, 19:40
by Lukec
Siskins & Singers, enjoy the song and like they dont prefer a large amount of live food, also they become quite tame.
Melba's are definately another favourite.
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 08 Jun 2009, 20:08
by Mattyboy
I was looking at some videos of grey singers on Youtube and the song is AMAZING. It's a pity they are now so rare in Oz aviaries. They're a bit drab but I'd definitely include them in a mixed collection.
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 09 Jun 2009, 09:09
by Lukec
Yeah they are nice Birds although a little plain.
I havnt seen any for more than 10 years.
I wonder if anyone on the forum here has any.
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 16 Jun 2009, 21:06
by craigvdl
I'm also interested in whether anyone has grey singers. I've seen wanted adds for them for months which never seem to get filled, so I'm assuming they are now extremely rare, which is a great pity.
On another front, has anyone had experience with Yellowhammers? I saw them near Queenstown in NZ last year. They are absolutely beautiful, but maybe it was the setting.....
Craig
Re: Your favourite species you've kept
Posted: 02 Jul 2009, 12:03
by finchbreeder
Cubans for their lively little personalities. And canaries (Glosters in my case) for their beatiful song. Quiet right now but can usually hear "Pavarotti" singing away down the back yard while I am in here on the computor.
LML