Forbes/ Tricolor Parrot Finches - tips on keeping and breeding


		(Graham's comments)

Breeding Forbes/ Tricolored Parrot Finches

specifics which apply more to Tricolored/ Forbes more than to Parrot Finches generally possibly not a beginner's Parrot Finch, slightly nervous, needs to be active straightforward to foster breed but less easy than other species to parent-rear
Housing
look terrific in aviaries - particularly if in sun - otherwise... the biggest cage possible is advisable as they tend towards obesity arrange perches to deter straightforward hopping from perch to perch so... nest box at highest point a single front to rear perch 2 smaller perches nearer the ground food container on floor to encourage vertical flight tends to be a fairly nervous bird so space is very important, especially if trying to parent-rear
Feeding/ Softfood
Several names - Forbes/ Tricolored/ Tri colored/ Blue-breasted/ Tanimbar - Parrot Finches can put weight on quickly so be careful on the amount of soft food given feeding is similar as for other parrot finches but tend to like smaller seeds as in the Jos van Himbergen Code No. 4 seed mixture mix is unknown but examples of smaller seeds are plate millet, red Panicum (not red millet) they like grass seeds ie Kanaus grass, fresh grass seed heads Forbes the like niger - but is fattening
Sexing and breeding
Tricolored - Cock	one of the more difficult parrot finches to parent rear although other breeders can find it relatively easy sexing is easy in this species the cock has a decidedly darker blue breast than the hen this shows very early in the first moult as coloured spots appear on the breast after approximately 4 months important to pair absolutely as soon as possible ie as soon as the colours start to show but pair off without a nest box delaying pairing can make pair-bond formation very difficult with older birds as soon as come into full colour put in next box birds could be as young as 4 or 5 months old time to first moult varies according to the conditions - amount of light, food etc. Forbes seem to breed early and have a short breeding life ie are past their best at 18 months	Tricolored - Hen
Nest boxes
normal half-fronted nest boxes as high as possible hanging on front or inner top rear corner






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