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amf1975

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Everything posted by amf1975

  1. welcome to the zebra finch addiction when ever you introduce birds you will always get a bit off fighting that just how zebbies are!!!!. if I put birds into my outside flight I try add more then one at a time but my flights are big enough for them to get out of the way of the established birds.. when I am grouping in double breeders/wire doubles or internal flight cages.. again I try more then one bird at a time but do just put one in sometimes as that's all I have. a trick you could try is to take the current occupants out for half an hour or so!!! swap perches around move the drinkers and seed/ grit dishes and cuttle to different parts of the cage then add all the birds back in together.. the established birds tend to be more interested with finding food and water an working out where there fav roosting perch has gone then be bothered about starting a fight. something else that works is when putting them back in give them a treat??? nice piece of millet or some fresh greens. think distraction is the key... no matter what you do try only add birds when you have the time to spend a couple or 3 hours been able to keep an eye on them... no matter what you try you will get squabbles that's just zebs.. good luck Andy
  2. photo would be a big help...interested to see it.
  3. Morning Bobby... arnt our uman slaves silly leaving computors or yummy toast out for us. My dad makes me toast with coconut on most mornings but only if I whistle and say good morning nicely.... I am banana crazy right now I just love them, if silly dad puts anything else in my dish I just throw it out!!!! I am only eating banana everything else might kill me and nothing must touch my banana or I just carnt eat it. my banana gets the nasty food poison on it it has to go...... I hope your mum does not send you away just whistle a song and do a dance my dad loves me doing that. locks on cage doors are easy to open I will have to teach you so she carnt keep you in!!! dad has to put a lock thingey on mine with a key to open it. every time I am out I try find it but them umans are so good a hiding things you want arnt they. I better dash or I will be in trouble like you. hope we can chat again soon. happy sqwarking. love Bertie
  4. ignore me!!!!!!!! I read the 1st post wrong!!!! I missed the FAWN BIT. I READ IT AS JUST LIGHT BACK HEN. sorry goodfella. no I would not use that pair........ all you would be doing is diluting every thing!!!!!!!!!!
  5. welcome to the wonderful world of zebra finches.... what I did find amusing was your line" how prolific these birds can breed" I wish some one would tell my big fat lazy exhibition birds that
  6. typical Harrison type bird.... like him
  7. deep pockets to get good blood off peter!!!! even his rubbish is not cheap lol.
  8. welcome and good luck..... who are you buying your stock from?
  9. happy 50th Lee. have a good one mate
  10. look good lee.... bout time you got your finger out and bred some birds for the show bench !!!! good luck
  11. hi paul where about are you??? there is a few gone up for sale on the Facebook groups. aviary birds and show birds. it getting to the right time of year to buy exhibition stock as the people who show will be starting to sort out what to keep and what not too.... andy nethercott on here keeps. and I know someone he is very good friends with has about 35-40 to go.
  12. you look like you are well on your way to being an addict like the rest of us... as for keeping them apart you can not really put I time on it... they both need to be fit. we use the term bouncing!!!(very active back an forth perch to perch, just generally busy in the cage, cock birds singing there heads off) beaks nice an deep in colour feathers looking good. its hard to describe you will just know!!!! the birds will just catch your eye. BUT!!!!! don't rush them or it wont work.. I tend to put the cock bird up in to the cage they are going to breed in 1st for a couple of days( hens can get territorial the other way round although I do know people who put them up together) when I add the hen I try do it when I have time to just watch!!! best to make sure know fighting...... 48 hrs after I pair I normally then add the nest box( I part make a cupped nest for them to start work on) give them something to build with feed them well start giving egg food(just a little) every day or at least every other. I find mashed hard boiled egg seem to bring the hens on to lay( but every bird is different) in an ideal world you don't want egg for the 1st 5 days or they are usually clear... get them used to a daily nest check and try keep all your routines the same... as much as you can just let the them get on with it.... all this is just my way am not saying it's the right way it's just want my birds seem to like.. hope this helps and all the very best off luck. Andy
  13. problems... lol I have forgot what a live zebra finch chick looks like. lol
  14. Thanks. all good. just wish my birds were. lol still struggling in f499.
  15. good set of lads too... always happy to help an make the effort.
  16. amf1975

    Breeding

    I buy children's feather bowa's from home barging's, give them a wash in just boiling water and dry them. then strip the feathers off an put them in the bottom of the cage.. seems to help with plucking. i like Allan use soft meadow or timothy hay it's cheep from pets at home. if you put the nest box on for your birds to sleep in Ricky? there really is no need as 95% of zebs sleep on the perch!!! an only use nest box's to raise chick's. if you put a nest box on at any time of year an you have a cock and a hen they will invariably breed......
  17. good to see you back on here fella... how's breeding going?
  18. welcome to the addictive world of zebra finches an good to see new people taking the plunge an trying the bench.... good luck.. p.s if you have birds on eggs now it's a tad bit early for the 2017 zfs rings to come(if you do join) for you to be able to ring them and CYOB show them next year as rings wont come till the 6th jan at the earliest. you could still show them in the adults classes. also it is better to sell excess birds that have closed year/identification rings on.. again good luck an enjoy these wonderful little birds. Andrew
  19. to time it right for rings 2 n week in December. if it goes to plan an the rings do come on the 6th you should be alright.... but the best laid plans of mice and men!!!! with exhibition zebs I have gad to ring birds at 6 days old rather then the normal 7- 9.... then you will have a problem getting the rings on.. something else to try if they are a little tight is olive oil... good luck with the breeding Andrew
  20. amf1975

    Show time

    well done for having the courage to bench your birds. Good way to test you an your birds. its a nerve racking experience the 1st time you do it.. I would like to say it get's easier each time but I get nervous as **** every time I take my birds to a show.... We all like to win or we would not enter but the social side of the shows are what people who don't bench don't see, the banter, the nervous excitement or just the chance to sit an talk all things birds with people who have the same passion you do. well done to you both. once you have the show bug it never goes away.... Andrew
  21. what a nice thing to do... fantastic story. welcome to the forum and to these wonderful little birds.
  22. amf1975

    bird room finished!

    all you need is a bed in there an you can move in.... fantastic set up. well done an enjoy hours an hours of fun in there.