Question:
Hi all, I’ve been reading for a few months and have enjoyed all the fun birdie stories. I however, have finches. Not nearly as exciting as a big bird, but I love them all the same. My pair, the Peabodys, are currently sitting on 4 eggs. This is the second time they’ve set but the last clutch was either infertile or got cold. I’ve got my fingers crossed this time. Does anyone else reading this group have smaller birds? Joan — Joan C. Maxfield * "Je Crois que je vais cracher une
Response:
Hi all, I’ve been reading for a few months and have enjoyed all the fun birdie stories. I however, have finches. Not nearly as exciting as a big bird, but I love them all the same. My pair, the Peabodys, are currently sitting on 4 eggs. This is the second time they’ve set but the last clutch was either infertile or got cold. I’ve got my fingers crossed this time. Does anyone else reading this group have smaller birds? Joan – Joan C. Maxfield * "Je Crois que je vais cracher une I have finches (two separated pair of pure white Java Rice Birds). The older pair has been breeding consistently for the two years I’ve had them, and has just hatched five (possibly six–I’ll check the last egg tonight) chicks. These birds can tell if the eggs are infertile and they’ll stop incubating consistently after a few days–otherwise one of the two will just about be always on the eggs. The parents are devoted and take excellent care of the young. Our birds are a non-albino mutation of the original large beaked white, black, and grey Java Rice Bird. The pure white breeds true. They are canary sized; the male sings even in the presence of the female. They are timid and very pretty to watch. Rich
Response:
> I have finches (two separated pair of pure white Java Rice Birds). > The older pair has been breeding consistently for the two years I’ve > had them, and has just hatched five (possibly six–I’ll check the last > egg tonight) chicks. These birds can tell if the eggs are infertile > and they’ll stop incubating consistently after a few days–otherwise > one of the two will just about be always on the eggs. The parents are > devoted and take excellent care of the young. > Our birds are a non-albino mutation of the original large beaked > white, black, and grey Java Rice Bird. The pure white breeds true. > They are canary sized; the male sings even in the presence of the > female. They are timid and very pretty to watch. > Rich
I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever run into any JRB keepers out there. I originally bought two pairs of JRB’s, a pair of grays and a pair of whites. The GJRBs have bred three times, producing a total of eight young which look like pure GJRBs. The WJRBs bred only once before the female, which was deformed, died. Here’s the funny part: the offspring Ws consist of two white animals with a few gray flecks, and three gray animals which are completely distinguishable from the G offspring by virtue of having white throats where GJRBs have black throats. I am still trying to figure out if my original WJRB pair were albinos. Having had both pairs in the same cage complicates the guesswork a bit.
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi all, > I’ve been reading for a few months and have enjoyed all the fun birdie > stories. I however, have finches. Not nearly as exciting as a big > bird, but I love them all the same. My pair, the Peabodys, are > currently sitting on 4 eggs. This is the second time they’ve set but > the last clutch was either infertile or got cold. I’ve got my fingers > crossed this time. Does anyone else reading this group have smaller > birds? > Joan > — > Joan C. Maxfield * "Je Crois que je vais cracher une
Hi Joan, I almost unsubscribed to this group because due to the lack of small-bird related postings. I have six finches (2 zebras-Ruthie & DiNiro, 2 white-hooded nuns-Pope John Paul and Mary Magdeline, and two Gouldians-Ren & Stimpy) I’ve had finches for about 4 years now and I love ‘em! While they’ll never sit on my shoulder I love to watch them and listen to them. In the summer I want to put them outside in a large flight cage. I’m hoping this will stimulate the Goulds to breed. The zebra pair are prolific egg-layers but none of their clutches have ever hatched. Perhaps if I provided the proper nesting material or environment they might have offspring but I’m not really intested in breeding those guys. FINCH OWNERS UNITE!! LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD ON THIS GROUP!!! X X Jarrett Knyal The Institute for the (___) ** elvis has left the building ** Northwestern University
Response:
> I have finches (two separated pair of pure white Java Rice Birds). > The older pair has been breeding consistently for the two years I’ve > had them, and has just hatched five (possibly six–I’ll check the last > egg tonight) chicks. These birds can tell if the eggs are infertile > and they’ll stop incubating consistently after a few days–otherwise > one of the two will just about be always on the eggs. The parents are > devoted and take excellent care of the young. > > Our birds are a non-albino mutation of the original large beaked > white, black, and grey Java Rice Bird. The pure white breeds true. > They are canary sized; the male sings even in the presence of the > female. They are timid and very pretty to watch. > > Rich I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever run into any JRB keepers out there. I originally bought two pairs of JRB’s, a pair of grays and a pair of whites. The GJRBs have bred three times, producing a total of eight young which look like pure GJRBs. The WJRBs bred only once before the female, which was deformed, died. Here’s the funny part: the offspring Ws consist of two white animals with a few gray flecks, and three gray animals which are completely distinguishable from the G offspring by virtue of having white throats where GJRBs have black throats. I am still trying to figure out if my original WJRB pair were albinos. Having had both pairs in the same cage complicates the guesswork a bit. The offspring of the While Java’s have a lot of grey feathers along their backs. Within a year, they all molt to a pure white. This has been consistent with 16 offspring from the one breeding pair. Rich
Response:
I might as well get my $0.02 in: I used to have finches until about 1-1/2 years ago. Next week, I’ll be moving into my new house and plan to build an aviary in the backyard. Finches are cool! Over the years, I had two Zebras, a Spicebird, White-Hooded Nun, and Green Singer. Maybe next time I’ll try a Society Finch. – Bill G
Response:
Knyal) says: >In the summer I want to put [the finches] outside in a large flight >cage. I’m hoping this will stimulate the Goulds to breed. The zebra pair >are prolific egg-layers but none of their clutches have ever hatched. >Perhaps if I provided the proper nesting material or environment they might >have offspring but I’m not really intested in breeding those guys.
Hi, Jarrett. I have Bengalese finches (MaMa, Boy, Pig, Stripe, Patch, Sis, and Hoover). They love to sit on eggs. I have several finch books that say that these guys are great if you want someone to hatch someone else’s eggs. I was talking to one breeder who uses Bengalese to hatch her Gouldian eggs, since the Gouldians (hers, at least) are erratic in their parenting. So maybe when you get your Gouldians to lay, you might want to get some Bengalese nannies. They are delightful little crickety-voiced guys. (Trivial observation: Did you know that seven finches eating loose millet at one time sounds exactly like Rice Krispies when you pour the milk on?) >FINCH OWNERS UNITE!! LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD ON THIS GROUP!!!
Okay. Beepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepbeepchirp! –Laura Kittleson standard disclaimers apply
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