Emmy

Sorry it's a day late but Wishing you a very happy belated birthday Trevor, hope you had a lovely day sitting with your feet up and relaxing. Emmy

Hi Luis Looking foward to seeing the photographs. Well Done! --(I'm just a typical woman-- a proper 'Bossy Boots ) Emmy

Welcome to the forum Luis You have a nice variety of birds would be nice if you could post some potographs I have never heard of 'chestnut breasted munias'?. Think you are perhaps the first from Portugal, (at least i havent seen any posts on the map for Portugal) be nice if you could add yourself to the map. This is a very friendly forum with lots of interesting discussions. hope to read more posts from you soon. Emmy

Hi Georgina, Not sure from your post how long you have had the birds, but I'm sure members here will be very willing to tell you what is required to keeep your birds healthy and happy. Although I've been handrearing some chicks recently its definately not the road to take if the birds can be with their parents. I hope other members will chip in here and add some more information for you if I miss anything out. They must have a decent size cage and it must be cleaned regularly. There's lots of things that can be put on the floor of their cage to make this an easy task. I line the bottom of the cage with wallpaper lining paper,and I use a spray bottle of 'Johnston's clean and safe' (can be bought from a pet store),to clean the cage when changing the paper and cleaning the bottom of the cages. I offer mine the following food: Foreign finch seed, panicum seed, moist egg food with honey(the honey is in the mix when bought) millet spray, iodine block, oyster shell grit with occasionally a little charcoal in it, cuttlefish and cress The husks from the seeds have to be blown from the seed dish daily and they must have access to fresh water at all times. I also give mine access to a bird bath fixed to the cage door - they love that. Hope this helps you to understand their needs. Emmy

Oh Kerry I'm so sorry to hear what happened to your little orange breasted bird. Why do people set off those loud rockets? If only they thought about the consequencies of their actions before doing that. I think many people believe that animals/birds are not effected by the noise rockets etc make but its not only the animals/birds that get upset your children were disturbed too. I hope you will mention to your neighbours what has happened. Seems that Friday was a bad day for both of us. Emmy

Many Happy Returns Hope you have a nice day Emmy

Many Happy Returns Hope you have a ncie day. Emmy

Hi Dan welcome to the forum and let me tell you it doesnt matter what age you are -- all are made welcome. I'm sure Josh will back me up on this he's a wee bit younger than you. Emmy

Hi Tracy Welcome to the forum I have zebra Finches, 2 canaries and quails (Texan whites and cpq's) Hope you enjoy being an active member of the forum Emmy

Happy Birthday Helen Hope you have a nice day Emmy

Welcome to the forum Willie you can be assured you will get all your questions answered here. The members here are always ready to help. Emmy

Steve You're joking here but you were nearer the truth than you realise - a while ago I was thinking about getting a parrot - I've always wanted one .- what was said about this is not printable :lol: The family have been well lectured about what has to happen to the pets I have if any of them outlive me (which I have no intentions of letting happen :lol: ) Their latest quote is: 'Well the barbecue will come in handy' Paul Thank you for that Paul but once that would have been true but now I think it would be truer to say that my 'Get up and go has got up and gone! :lol: Emmy

Welcome to the forum Jim. I keep my zebra finches as pets too Emmy

Hi Steve That's a good working relationship saves arguments My four 'kids' are married with their own children now so its really just myself I have to answer to now. My friend has just advised me to take up a new hobby and go and 'SKI' and I thought that was a great excuse and a fantastic idea :lol: (SKI = Spend the Kids Inheritance ) (ps Dont think I need to do that though, I'm really lucky, because if I really wanted anything, they would get it for me--spoiled rotten I am although I really had to think recently when I said I was thinking about getting another dog - this was the reply- 'Mum do you realise a puppy can live for about 15years!!' wonder if they meant that I've almost reached my sell by date? Emmy

Kerry, Guess it may be a while yet before they breed I'm sure they are young birds. That will give me time to learn to read maps and be able to translate it into 'bird talk' :lol: I know all about spending the money and not realising just how much you have spent. I have a lot of different craft hobbies and my family are all telling me I have enough materials here to open a store and they would agree with your husband --you just dont realise the amount of money it all mounts up to. Last year when i got my 2 zebra Finches I promised the family if the birds had chicks I would sell them but so far it hasnt happened. (I will post photographs of any new arrivals and I'll let you know the names she picks for them ) Emmy

Hi Kerry (I think the birds would have a better chance of flying down South than me ever getting down there :lol: ) but I can assure you if they did breed and have chicks I would've gladly given you some of their chicks because I know they would have been well looked after and have had a good home. I do have an option here for selling my zebra finch chicks but so far havent sold any--I'd rather give them away free to 'homes' where I knew they were going and that they would be cared for properly. It will be interesting to see what chicks they do produce but whether they do or not have chicks those two will be with me for the rest of their lives. Just waiting for my granddaughter to come on holiday at the end of the week -she is going to give them names Emmy Emmy

Hi Trevor I have had a look at the hen and so far I cant see any 'pale spots on the flanks'. only thing I can see is that the feathers are a shade lighter than the feathers on her back - very pale shades of tan/orange -- but even if they arent 100 percent OB I'm still over the moon with them. If they are split of BB/OB what colours can I expect to get from pairing them? (I seem to have a post missing I answered Kerry's post saying that I couldnt be 100 percent sure and I would ask Colin if he's at the bird sale next Sunday- but it would be just like me to write it then forget to press the 'post' button `) Kerry and Trevor Thanks for the information Emmy

Dont think they are BB Kerry Emmy

Managed to get some photographs of the OB Finches this morning. Here they are: Emmy

Thanks Paul The OB hen is lovely too I hadnt seen an OB hen before until I had that lovely surprise when I was kindly given that pair from Colin Clark. I really like them but I havent moved them into the avairy yet I'm hoping they will pair up so when I do eventually put them into the avairy they will stay paired up together. Doing the same with the pair of pieds I have as well. Not sure if that will happen though. Emmy

Kerry I've still not managed to get a photograph of the OB hen this is the OB cock bird Emmy

Hi Kerry I was given a pair of orange breasted Finches just a few weeks ago and they are just lovely. Emmy

Happy Birhtday Wishes hope you have a nice day Emmy

Welcome to the forum 'Redkite' Good!! another person from Scotland :D Not sure about the correct information to give you re the heat and light. but I'm sure others will give you the correct advice. I have my finches in my utility room in an inside aviary but as there is a radiator there so keeping the room warm isnt a problem. but I do keep a light on from about 5.30pm until about 9.30pm and before I put all the lights off at night I make sure they are all roosting (I never leave them suddenly in the dark) There's the 125th Anniversary bird show held in Fife in the Milton of Balgonie is on Sunday 4th November 1pm be worth going to if you can manage. Emmy

Hi Kerry Welcome to the forum. One thing for certain you will find lots of people here to share your interest and we all love to see photographs of other forum member's Zebra Finches. Good that you know a good bit about genetics guess you will be able to help Paul answer all our questions in that 'field' Would be great to hear more about what you are aiming to achieve- a completely orange bird. Look forward to reading your posts Emmy