Aussie Finch Forum

G'day

I'm a Belgian guy who started with zebrafinches
and with breeding and selling them
I could affort other species.

After graduating I went on a trip around Oz
for more then 12 months
and did another 3 months in NZ
before coming home (now 2 months ago).

In the meantime I found a job
and started over with a new finchcollection
and building a new large aviary (8mx3mx2m)
inspired by Graham Bull's setup.

AT the moment I have these grassfinches:

- starfinch
- double bar
- diamond sparrow
- red-brows
- plumheads
- gouldians
- longtails
- zebrafinch

- red face parrotfinch
- forbes parrotfinch
- little cubans

My website hasn't been updated
since before the travelling
but with a new aviary
ans some new species
I will do soon!
(it's in Dutch, but the pictures and
maybe a translator program will tell the whole story)
http://www.veugelkoer.be

I am very fond off mutations
but even more of strong and healthy birds
and that's what I hope you'll see!

cheers
koen

Nice aviaries one question which finches are kept in the snow laden aviary?

Hi and welcome to Aussie Finch Forum, very nice setup you have, like your web site to

All of them,
even the gouldians
and the so called "weak(er)" blue mutation.

I don't recommend to just copy
beause a lot of harsh selection
need to be done before you can establish a strain
that can cope with an colder climate
(even colder then Tazzy or NZ )

To begin with,
I try to start with at least 3 couples of a new species
preferably even more.

They go into quarantine (inside)
to be observed closely.
And any sign of weakness
(shape, model, ... health)
means exclusion from breeding.

Sometimes you can make a compromise
to form enough pairs
but that should be an exeption.

After the first breeding season
I can generally select thouroughly
and at max the 15% are kept.
Usaully it's even under 5% of a certain flock.

I do realise that they are still tropical/exotic birds
so even when I'm sure the can cope
I don't want to mistreat the birds
and always keep a close eye during cold and dark winterdays.

But when I have to bring a certain bird inside
I might saved his live but it will most likely not breed
next year, not in my aviary anyway ;)

Hi & welcome to the forum

Welcome koen,Nice looking aviary setup you have.I couldn't help but notice the chep pallets the aviaries sit on (Funny how they get about as you would have read the stencil on the side ).Do you use a fork truck to move them in winter ?

When I started travelling down-under my aviary had to move
and since I've returned my mother doesn't want to give it back

So I started fixing an old one
but it will be more then 3times the size of my previous one


Leveling the floor and trimming some bush

The rope/sticks give an indication
where the aviary will be placed

Today I'm busy fixing the framework
and at the end of the month it should be ready
for the spring/summer season here

Hi and welcome to the forum

Welcome. Looking at your website can see the gradual expansion of your interest. Good to see.
But you can have the snow, does not apeal at all, brr.
LML

G'day and welcome to the AFF