Aussie Finch Forum

Hi all, i have a couple of aviaries with mixed finches- had success with gouldians, stars, parrot finches, ruddies and others in them, but no luck with chestnut breasted mannikins, black headed nuns or painteds. Had a variety of nests, brush and some plants and grasses. Put in a couple of wire mesh cylinders with long course grass in them in each aviary, screwed to wall about chest height, and nesting started that day! Got 6 chestnut breasts, 6 painteds and a couple of bh nuns out so far, with all building/ sitting again.
Such a simple nest but what a difference it makes. The painteds made a platform from mulch and bark on top that their young rest on. The mannikins obviously like the privacy as they burrow in around the side/back of the cylinder.
I have had these in another aviary for years with some success but they were filled with finer grass. I think the longer courser grass loosely packed works better.
If you haven't tried them, I'd highly recommend it

I pack mine with tea tree. I need another as they work well for all Birds.

Sounds like you've done well

Good work but a warning: I used to use chicken wire until I found my breeding male Yellow-rump hanging by a badly tangled and mutilated leg.

Hi could you please tell the size I should make the wire cylinders and how much grass I should put in it to start and should I hang them vertically or horizontal I have wire that is 1cm x 1cm or 2 x 2cm thanks

I've used large mesh (dogmesh) for nesting cylinders. When using grass, vertical is best otherwise it all tends to settle on the bottom over time. I mostly used them with brush or a combo of brush & grass is good for structure.

best to not pack them too tightly too - leave some gaps throughout.

Mine were from left over wire so were about 60cms long and 30cms diameter, 5cm chicken wire, hung vertically, and as Tiaris said, dont pack too much in, the birds will build what they need.

Thanks for your advice

Also do I put wire on the base and top?

I put a base on the bottom and on the top I put a piece of shade cloth to stop the dropping of the bird fall through,I hope this will help you.