Pin-tailed whydahs

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Mattyboy
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Posts: 134
Joined: 20 May 2009, 22:23
Location: Sydney

Anyone have them? Anyone had them?
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gomer
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Posts: 4484
Joined: 23 Nov 2008, 17:41
Location: Victoria
Location: Victoria Australia

not I.
Keeper of Australian Grass Finches
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Mickp
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Posts: 2809
Joined: 09 Nov 2008, 19:03
Location: Yenda NSW
Location: Yenda NSW

havent got them either, only ever seen photos of them
Mick.
Finch addict and rodent hater.
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Pete Sara
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Posts: 2221
Joined: 09 Nov 2008, 19:44
Location: Byford WA
Location: eastern suburbs of perth w.a

never had them , but dont they use saint helena finches as hosts for there babies like cuckoos...pete
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Mattyboy
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Posts: 134
Joined: 20 May 2009, 22:23
Location: Sydney

Yeah that's right.
They don't kill the st helena babies though, they grow up side by side.
Apparently in the wild they also use orange breasts as hosts, but usually only when there are no st helenas available.
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E Orix
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Posts: 2740
Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
Location: Howlong NSW

Yes I have Pintails
I think there is a young pair there for sale if anyone is interested.
They do rely on St Helenas to rear them and they are reared alongside the young Saints.
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Mattyboy
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Posts: 134
Joined: 20 May 2009, 22:23
Location: Sydney

Hey Grenadier
Would love to hear from you about your experiences with these birds. There's not a huge amount of literature out there from Aussie breeders.
How easy do you find them to breed, any special tricks you can share, how do they get on with their aviary-mates, do you keep them in pairs, or a cock with a harem?
Cheers
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craigvdl
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Posts: 103
Joined: 20 May 2009, 09:47
Location: Sydney, NSW
Location: Sydney

Have sent you a PM G. May be interested. Regards Craig
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E Orix
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Posts: 2740
Joined: 29 May 2009, 23:30
Location: Howlong on NSW/Vic Border 30km from Albury
Location: Howlong NSW

In the past I have run up to 6 hens with a cockbird in a very large flight but these days one hen per Saint Helena colony. My revised theory is that multiple hens will visit the nest too frequently and the hoste may reject the whole clutch. They seem to do very well 1pair Pintail to 6 or more pairs of St Helenas.
If you can breed Saints you are well on the way to breeding Pintails.
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Mattyboy
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Posts: 134
Joined: 20 May 2009, 22:23
Location: Sydney

Great, and about how many young will a pair produce per year under those conditions?
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