Aussie Finch Forum

Not sure why this species isn't listed but I know it's not very popular - it's not brightly coloured, it's cheap, it's not sexually dimorphic and the wild caught ferals are difficult to breed. I've had 6 birds for 3 years and each year a lone male builds a nest and tries to get a mate interested but alas no luck - until now. I noticed a new nest build in the brush and it belongs to my male (distinguished by his white ring) and for the first time it contains eggs! I haven't identified who he's cohabitating with but they should be hatchlings next week and then things will get intereseting. I'm giving them the lot at the moment (dry seed, sprouts,chitted seed with Fidler soft food, mashed egg, green seed & meal worms and even fruit) so I can only hope that it satisfies them. Pity they waited until we are moving back to Australia to domesticate themselves but I'll be over the moon if I can leave an aviary adapted strain here in the Philippines because no one seems to keep them because they are in the too hard basket and are so cheap (if illegal).

Congratulations. Better late than never. Think part of the problem with this like other Lonchuras is the fact that it is a Lonchura and will cross with others of the genus. I like them, but have never had the space and availability come together at the same time.
LML

Noticed the hen today (red leg band) exiting the nest when I went near the aviary towards dusk. I hope this nest works out works. Getting wild birds to breed isn't easy.

Fingers crossed for you.

go spicies! hope they do well!

There a good looking bird...like me and plummies gota support the not so coloured birds. Mind you i rekon my plummies even tho there not lochuras or even the lonchura family look fantastic in full sun!!!!

GregH, as your successes with these birds?

Do tell? Did they hatch young? If so how many? etc.
LML

Well they lay nest after nest and nothing happens. I've pulled all artifical nests from this aviary in preparation for my departure in December so I won't be able to investigate further. I have a problem with declining male fertility for all finches I keep so I'm hoping to find an answer when I set up in Brisbane next year but please offer any advice.

I hate to ask the obvious Greg but are you sure they are a pair?
If they are, have you opened any eggs? Any signs of fertility?