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Parrot Finches |
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Breeding Parrot Finches
Four species now covered, with help of well-known UK Parrot Finch (and Waxbill) breeder Graham Lee
Breeding Blue-faced Parrot Finches, Red-headed Parrot Finches and Tricolor or Forbes Parrot Finches is relatively straightforward
Pin-tailed Parrot Finches may be less easy but they are not difficult
Availability of young birds in the UK is more the problem
We hope the information helps people breed more Parrot Finches
Blue-faced Parrot Finch
Erythrura trichroa
a free breeding Parrot Finch - perhaps ideal for those just starting with Parrot Finches
a robust, easy- to- care- for bird with a nice little song, which is still relatively available in the UK
not suited to colony breeding - unlike the Pin-tailed Parrot Finch - but a good parent-rearing bird
perhaps visually not the most commanding of Parrot Finches, except in sunlight
to my eye, a very attractive mutation is the black-eyed yellow (not to be confused with the Lutino and its eyesight problems)
Pin-tailed Parrot Finch/ Pin-tailed Nonpareil Parrot Finch
Erythrura prasina
a stunning, albeit nervous and quite shy, Parrot Finch
not a species for the beginner and now quite difficult to obtain
very rewarding Parrot Finch, particularly as it seems to be a very willing colony breeder
there is a naturally occurring yellow-bellied colour variant
although much skill must go into producing mutations, I have not seen any which compete with the natural form for colour and sheer beauty
many resort to foster-rearing as parent-rearing can be challenging with some birds
a major frustration with these birds is their unwillingness to try new or different foods (hence problems with some to parent rear)
the section on Pin-tailed is the most detailed of the species covered
Red-headed Parrot Finch/ Red-throated Parrot Finch
Erythrura Psittacea
definitely a very characterful, active, engaging and attractive Parrot Finch - you will fall for this bird
another which suits newcomers to Parrot Finches - willing to breed and a robust bird
ideally bred as single pairs but with space and cover more than one pair will co-habit and breed
not as readily available in the UK as the Blue-faced which is surprising given that it is easy to care for and to breed
parent-rearing is fine with this species; quite easy to sex as the male alone emits his pitiful excuse for a song
the Sea-green is an attractive mutation but does it really vie with the normal Reds?
My personnal attitude to 'spotty' mutations generally is probably clear already
Tricolored/ Blue-breasted/ Tanimbar/ Forbes Parrot Finch
Erythrura tricolor
Click button for Graham's section
One of the best breeders of parrot finches in the UK
is happy to chat or sell surplus birds
Click on email envelope suggesting a few times and
Graham will reply with a mutually convenient time
Courtesy Graham Lee
a discreet bird which can be nervous and likes to keep itself to itself
very attractive in an understated way and easy to sex by colour alone
overall impression - not for the newcomer but is easier than the Pin-tailed
some keepers parent-rear with ease; others have to use fosters
the tendency to obesity is one of the main negatives of the Forbes
a bird which seems to need to pair bond very young and breed early
some find that it isn't particularly long-lived
Click button for section on Forbes/ Tricolored Parrot Finches
Blue Capped Waxbills
www.blue-capped-waxbill.com
Lavender Waxbills
www.lavender-waxbill.com