until later can bring doubt about pedigrees. Our approach to housing parent birds that have just been split up is very similar to the way we deal with weaning chicks. Cocks and hens are housed separately in flight cages. While they are breeding, the pairs are given access to baths every three or four days. The breeding season causes feathers to get dirty and damaged – [particularly those of the hens – so bathing is permitted more frequently during the recuperation period. Success with zebra finch exhibition finches depends upon getting them into the right condition at the right time. For example, when the show season comes to an end, it is necessary to bring them down from their high show condition. This is achieved, in the main, by being housed in flights for six to eight weeks. The change in their appearance after that period can be so striking that a winning bird can be almost unrecognizable. After a hard breeding season, they need to be rested before being brought back into show condition. The staple diet consists of a budgerigar mixture that is strong in millets and weak
in canary seed. Millet sprays, which were withheld during the breeding season, are now made available. The sprays offer extra nourishment and promote activity. We do not experience problems of hens putting on weight during the breeding season. Feeding a couple of rounds of youngsters keeps them trim. Any egg food that is left over after catering for the needs of pairs that are still breeding or weaning youngsters is given to the recuperating adults.
When it comes to mineral/vitamin supplements, we have found that those specifically developed for pigeons are very good. We use two types, one that is given in the drinking water and another, a powder, that is sprinkled onto the mixture of mineralized and oyster shell grit that is always available. Our birds pounce on the powdered supplement as soon as it is added. If, after a couple of weeks close observation, the breeding birds are still fully fit, they are transferred from the flight cages into flights. Again, the sexes are segregated. With zebra finches, you get a certain degree of chasing and squabbling even in
When it comes to mineral/vitamin supplements, we have found that those specifically developed for pigeons are very good. We use two types, one that is given in the drinking water and another, a powder, that is sprinkled onto the mixture of mineralized and oyster shell grit that is always available. Our birds pounce on the powdered supplement as soon as it is added.
28 BIRD SCENE
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