FOREIGN SEEDEATERS

HOUSING

Foreign Seedeater=s may be kept in cages but ideally should have an outside flight with inside quarters for feeding and roosting at night. It is recommened that the roof of the flight is covered to avoid contamination from wildbirds. eg: Salmonella from bird droppings etc. Extended hours of lighting need to be provided for a minimum of 12 to 14 hours each day. Foreign seedeater=s generally need the temperature to be maintained above freezing during the winter and early spring so some form of heating must be considered.

FEEDING

A Foreign Finch mixture is usually available at most pet shops and this together with water and mineral grit will provide the staple diet. However your birds will benefit from the addition of other foods such as egg food, millet sprays, greenfood, eg: dandelion, Chickweed, but make sure that this is collected from an area that can not be fouled by dogs, cats or other animals. A slice of apple is also appreciated. Your birds will also require livefood, especially when breeding and rearing young. This may be collected from the wild but if time is not available small mealworms, buffalo worms and white worms are available at most pet shops catering for birds.

BREEDING

Breeding of Zebra and Bengalese finches is relatively easy, providing of course, they wish to breed, however, Waxbills and Mannikins require a spacious, well planted flight, protected from cold winds and heavy rain and they also require a plentiful supply of live food in order to rear young. Although some of the common species are available at modest prices these are normally birds caught from the wild but if captive bred birds are available these are usually easier to maintain and breed. A variety of nest boxes, baskets and nest pans should be provided to give the birds a choice of selection, with a large supply of nesting materials such as, coconut fibre, hay, etc.  It should be remembered that Zebra & Bengalese Finches will rob nesting materials from other birds nest's, so they are best kept, when breeding, in a flight of their own so that they do not detract others from nesting.