orange breasts

Includes Species Profile
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aap1966
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Posts: 8
Joined: 30 Apr 2010, 17:05
Location: SE Queensland

If you plant some grevillia's in the aviary...mine used to hunt amongst the flowers all day. Looked like they were eating nectar but I suspect they were hunting bugs amongst the flowers. My old aviary was 1.8m x 3.6 m, heavily planted. I bred reasonable numbers, not huge, with no supplied livefood at all.
I knew it would happen, just not so soon.
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flap
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Posts: 1251
Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
Location: Perth, WA
Location: Perth WA

Only now that they are nesting are they having minimeal worms. We have pots in avairy which attract midgies. also noticed they fossick in the potting mix (esp newly introduced pots) so guessing they would find bugs. In addition have been putting in aphid infested shoots for them to help themselves.
flaP
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GregH
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Posts: 1671
Joined: 17 Feb 2009, 08:20
Location: Brisbane
Location: Chapel Hill, Brisbane Qld

You're safe bringing termites onto your property - as long as you don't have the queen. The workers are what you feed to the birds and while thery are all ostensibly female they are sterile. I'm not sure about termites but with the other social insects the founding queen mates only once in thier life and stores the sperm to make females and the unfertilized (haploid) eggs become males. When you store termiltes you need to keep them surrounded by a moat of water, not so much to keep them in but to keep out preditory ants. Ideal pets actually but I think we all prefer finches.
Last edited by GregH on 03 Nov 2010, 08:39, edited 1 time in total.
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moos
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Posts: 9
Joined: 01 Nov 2010, 22:51
Location: England

Fruit flies & frozen Pinkies
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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

I do not class them as a live food eater,maybe white ants(termites) but I have not seen them at my live food station.
By the way for us Aussies,Pinkies are small maggots and sold in the UK.I think the colour is a dye but I am not sure.
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Jayburd
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Posts: 5795
Joined: 08 Dec 2009, 12:08
Location: Canberra

pinkies (baby mice) can be purchased from reptile stores here.
unfortunately you cant buy maggots as you can mealworms here like you can in Germany :thumbdown:
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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flap
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Posts: 1251
Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
Location: Perth, WA
Location: Perth WA

I have a pair of OBs nesting at the moment and the hen has been eating mini mealworms for the last couple of weeks. prior to that they hadn't touched them.
flaP
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kimberley breeder
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Posts: 435
Joined: 01 Aug 2010, 18:57
Location: Perth/ Byford- WA
Location: Perth - SOR

I am still waiting for my OBs to start nesting. The Ruddies have babies at the moement and are devouring the minimealies like crazy-hoping my OBs will take the hint and start soon!!
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Jayburd
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Posts: 5795
Joined: 08 Dec 2009, 12:08
Location: Canberra

fingers crossed for you KB :D
Flab, the going for the mealworms indicates that there are young in the nest :) good luck!
Julian

Birdwatcher and finch-keeper.

Feel free to check out my photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/lewinsrail/
And my birding antics here: http://worthtwointhebushbirding.blogspot.com.au/
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flap
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Posts: 1251
Joined: 20 Jul 2010, 08:54
Location: Perth, WA
Location: Perth WA

Hi Jay, we definetely have 2, maybe 3 young. If they didn't die in today's hot weather. How on earth do I keep the aviary cool on a 39 degree day???
flaP
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