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amf1975

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Posts posted by amf1975

  1. Posted

    give them time.. try moving the perches about. take the birds out for half an hour move the perches and maybe the seed dishes and drinking fountains. if you only have one of each add another set.. then put the birds back in together..  it will give the hen something to think about and they will learn the new cages together and start to form a bond.. BUT sometimes the birds just don't like each other!!!! In the exhibition world its normally your best winning pair that just don't click and no matter what you try refuse to breed. lol

    andy

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  2. Posted · Report reply

    welcome to the zebra finch addiction :yahoo: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:pardon:.. good luck

    Andy

    • Like 1

  4. Posted

    interesting conundrum looking forward too the results. my dispel yet more myths about the breeding age of zebs and just how long after splitting a pair up you need to Waite so you are sure of who is the next nest of chick farther 

  8. Posted · Report reply

    14 hours ago, Pat said:
    Hi guys, recently started keeping a few birds after thinking about it for ever, finally turned my plans into cage units & recently acquired several pair of Hartz Roller Canaries (2017 birds). 
    Always had a soft spot for finches & factored that into my cage unit design. 
    At this time I do not envisage build flights aviaries etc so I will be trying to source quality bred birds & will pay a fair price. I'm specifically interested in CWF & white birds. Knowing how prolific these little birds can breed I will only buy in a couple of pair to start. My dilemma is that I do not know any one at this time hence joining this forum.
     
    Pat

    image.jpeg

    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 :D:D:D

    • Like 1

  14. Posted

    lee couple of lovely type hens there mate. don't try nail them down to breed on a certain day!!! just try work them towards it... there is no way if you have 10 pairs of birds that all 10 will be fit to breed on the same day especially big fat lazy exhibition birds:lol::lol: 

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  16. Posted · Report reply

    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.

  19. Posted · Report reply

    you look like you are well on your way to being an addict like the rest of us:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:... 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

    • Like 1

  21. Posted

    Andy. yes yes yes  and lots of it!!!!! so you are not on your own mate, and speaking to quite a few breeders and not just zebs it's happening a lot this year all over the country.

    Emmy!!! yes I give my birds it maybe once or twice a week. I use an organic one and use a cap full to a litre jug or I my preference is I soak my millet in  in boiling water over night with a cap full mixed in.. seems to be a better way of getting it into them!!!!!! if they can taste it in the water they tend to go thirsty that day. lol   

    • Like 1

  23. Posted

    no mate... lost 5  more good nests to not fed, pipped an not hatch, dead in shell or hen left 6 full to go cold!!!. so they have all been split for a rest. as I type I have 1 chick under a pair of bengies. a nest with 3 in an another nest with 1 in with one egg to hatch.. other 3 eggs in there dead in shell. I have put 7 pairs back up after a month off.. an they are all starting to lay eggs.. . I just keep plodding on....... worst season  in my memory!!!!!!! but there is only one way it can go an that's up.....

  25. Posted · Report reply

    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......

    • Like 1