Errol Crosbie.
Copyright © 2009.
All rights reserved.
Revised: August 6, 2010


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This is our history of keeping Pin-tailed Parrot Finches, (Erythrura prasina prasina)

 
1985 - bought 1 pair of imported Pin-tailed Nonpareils - eggs within 2 weeks but cock died
during incubation
1986 - bought 3 pairs - no eggs; late 1986 sold Pin-tailed
1987 - moved house - no birds;  1988/ 89 - no Pin-tailed
1990/ 91  winter (season) - bought 7 pairs of imported Pin-tailed (2 died).

23 chicks hatched but all parent-reared chicks died at about 8 days;
1 to the perch from the only foster nest
1991/ 92 - 22+ eggs hatched - attempted parent-rearing but none raised
1992/ 93 winter (season) - from approximately 70 eggs - 22 to perch; most fostered;
a few parent-reared.

All but 2 required hand-feeding supplementation for several days immediately after fledging before fosters or parents took over their duty.
 
Cock on perch - front view

1994 - ignored birds while refitting a yacht; some eggs  - no fostering
- no chicks fledged
2000 - revisited records for 1992/ 93 - recreated conditions, feed etc.    
1995 - late '95 - disaster trying new product as a prophylactic.
It killed most cocks.  
Sold all stock and sulked
 
Egg-laying commenced from late April.  Three hens and 5 cocks - all wild imports - laid 59 eggs.  
20 were foster-reared to the perch.  
1996 - rebuilt aviary with accent on hygiene and ability to maintain
itself during working week; 
mid-'96 restocked but no eggs;   
 
Only 4 required hand-supplementation.  
A further 4 were lost 5 days post fledging when suddenly and inexplicably they were abandoned by the Bengalese.
1997, 1998 & 1999 - no eggs; tried various diets
 
 All attempts at parent rearing failed.
2001 - attempting parent-rearing with first generation domestics. Not successful to date - 2 weaned from 25 eggs; see 'What's Occurring' for details
2002 - continued attempts to parent rear - started initiating feeding changes suggested by Dutch breeder & Graham Lee (UK)
Why are Pin-tailed so slow to adopt new food?Very, very few chicks to the perch

Links to other Parrot Finch sites are at 'Useful Links' on the
Link - Website - HomeLink - Pin-tailed - IndexLinks - Useful links