Aussie Finch Forum

hi all,
My orange breasts have now been moved to their proper home, a cage next to the aviary measuring roughly 0.9m deep, 1m wide and 1.3m high. I was wondering what sort of brush/nest/floor set up I should put in to stimulate their natural habitat and nest placement for good breeding? I have put in 3 nests at varying heights, a gourd and two small wicker nests.
Thanks~!

they are very versatile little birds and i have had them nest in all sorts of situations - boxes, growing bushes, grasses, brush and even up under the aviary rafters. so i think if you give them a few options including a small section of brush they will be fine. one thing i've noticed they particularly like is vertical perching provided by reeds, bamboo or the stronger clumbing grasses such as Johnsons grass or setaria so if you sould put in a small bit of something like that they'd love it. for the floor i'd go with a coarse river sand as it looks natural, can be easily raked around to keep the cage looking clean, dries out the droppings quickly to assist with parasite control and is fairly easy to replace. an alternative would be straw but i don't think it looks as good.

So no one here's ever cage bred orange breasts??

I thought thats why you built the aviary ?

It is. But I have been told they'd do better in a cage on their own or is that wrong?

Jayburd
I have run them with most species provided they have an area to retreat to if needed.
They have often nested in Grenadier Weaver nests that have had young Weavers fledge from.
They may be small but not that fragile

Thanks orix. Sorry corindabella, you're Post didn't show up on my screen till just now. Thanks!!