Waxbills

In aviculture the term Waxbill is generally used to cover, not only the waxbills, but all the small African & Asiatic Finches. All these are correctly defined as Estrildid Finches. Many species are available to the bird-keeper but the majority are imported wild-caught birds. Unfortunately only small numbers of a few species are currently being bred in captivity in the U.K. and this situation needs to be remedied so that the trapping and importation of wild birds, with the inevitable high mortality rate, can be reduced or even eliminated.

HOUSING

Ideally these species are best housed in an indoor flight where temperature and lighting can be controlled, as most need a minimum temperature of 10 – 15 degrees Centigrade and at least 12 hours of light. However, some species can be housed in an outdoor, planted flight during the warmer months. They can be housed in cages but need larger cages than those generally used for

domesticated species such as Bengalese. Can usually be housed in a group with other species of similar size, but pairs of the same species may have to be separated when breeding.

FEEDING

The Foreign Finch seed mixtures which are available are suitable, but a high proportion of smaller seeds is preferable so it may be necessary to add additional pannicum millet. Egg-food and a commercially available Insectivorous Mixture should also be available and some live-food, such as mini-mealworms, buffalo worms, fruit-fly etc., is usually required to get the birds into breeding condition and to rear young. Water for drinking and bathing together with small grit and grated cuttle-fish bone must be supplied.

BREEDING

Can be difficult, but some species are easier than others. The main difficulty is providing an adequate supply of protein in a form the birds will accept. Unlike the domesticated species, most birds do not readily take egg-food or Insectivorous Mixtures, but look for live food such as small insects or pupae. Temperature is important as, being tropical species, many tend to leave eggs or young in the nest rather than brooding continuously. Generally speaking, the Asiatic Munias and Mannikins are less dependant on live-food to rear young than the African species. It may be necessary to resort to fostering eggs under Bengalese. As all Estrildid Finches build a domed nest, it is difficult to carry out any inspection of nests without the risk of parents deserting