Aussie Finch Forum

Hello Everyone,

I have googled what type of nesting 'boxes' are preferred by double bars and a couple of sites have suggested nesting boxes. I already have a variety of these but mine continue to try and build a nest on a lone branch at the front of the cage. Poor little things spend ages trying to place the grass on the sticks. I was thinking of trying something like a flour sifter but thought I'd ask first what others use for theirs.

Thanks

How about a bushy branch in the same spot, it might do the trick.
Cheers Greg.

Thanks Greg yeah I might have to put something in the back corner- the branch they have picked is the only branch in the whole cage on the wire. Prime spot for butcher birds.

My pair use the cane finch nests, they have not long fledged four young and they are nesting again in another cane nest, as for nesting material they use any dry grass they can get from the aviary

I have had my Double bars use nest boxes with open or half fronts, balls stuffed with hay/grass and regular nest boxes. They always build a nest in the shape of those little wicker nests, inside their chosen spot. Best advice I got to get them to settle down and breed was to make a "wall" or pillar of loose brush and branches packet into a holder. I supplied the dry grass and they took to builing almost instantaneously. I now have little wicker grass nests in them occupied by the DB's.

Thank you all very much.

Do you have a photo of the 'wall' of branches just so I can see how it is attached up high in the aviary?

Not the easiest to see, but the only pic have on hand at the moment. The centre pole of my aviary is made up of Melaleuca (paperbark tree) branches and other odds and ends that I shoved into the coldrink bottles with the ends cut off, to make cylindrical holders. Others use tin cans etc. Any sort of thing that will keep the brush in place. I just nailed mine to the pole, but I assume you could also attach the holders with wire hooks etc.
The branches die off, but retain most of their leaves and the birds like it.
Perhaps others may be able to post pictures that give you more of a clue.

There is a pic somewhere on the site that I have been looking for, can't remember who posted it or which section, most probably Aviaries and cages, it showed a pic of brush up against the wall of an aviary. Sort of a sandwich, the wall of the aviary then the brush and then the wire holding the brush in place.
This is what I have in my aviaries, used cut sections of stormwater pipe cable tied to the wire

PaigeLouise1 wrote:Thanks Greg yeah I might have to put something in the back corner- the branch they have picked is the only branch in the whole cage on the wire. Prime spot for butcher birds.

The back corner under shelter is the best bet if you have Butcher birds hanging around.They are a real menace and when they breed they bring along the young ones to show them how to haraass your birds.Try and deter them as best you can.

Found it!
Gomers post, 6th one in.
viewtopic.php?f=39&t=2579&p=11815&hilit=+brush#p11815" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Jeez Im glad we dont get those Butcher birds here!