Zombie, noun. The living dead – a dead creature reanimated via a supernatural force and known for their propensity to eat human brains! Photo courtesy of Blogspot

I don’t want to talk about the creatures of fiction but the real zombie birds that haunt a few aviaries around the Philippines.  These zombies are the remnant trophy pieces that will never breed because of a lack of mates, suitable conditions or the expertise of the owner and without breeding a collection may as well be dead when there is no source of new stock.  Time has run out for many species of finches as stock has not been imported since 2005/6 and they have not been bred.  There are plenty of Zebras, Societies, Shaft-Tails, Gouldians, Stars, Owls and Java Sparrows but it is rare to find Masked finches, Diamond Fire-tails and Cut-throats offered.  In 2004 before I kept birds you could buy just about anything but unfortunately almost no one could breed them. 

By June 2007 when I got my aviary the most exotic finch available were cut-throats.  I sold two pair today (March 24) and got wholesale at Cartimar what I paid for their parents two years ago – P2000/pr.  It’s anyone’s guess what price they will be offered at to the public – if they get that far.  My colony represents almost the last of their kind and I’m happy to share my stock and expertise with those that can handle them but what of the other species out there?  I know that some finch enthusiasts still harbor Masked finches, St Helenas, African Silverbills and Cordon bleus as I’ve seen them on Blogs and at bird shows.  There may be more and I hope there are.

What I’d like to see is their owners examine their stewardship of these species remnants and decide to get together and breed them before it’s too late.  Can someone tell me if this is actually already happening?  As a non-Tagalog speaker I’m rather disadvantaged when it comes to gathering local intelligence about my favorite hobby.  If owners of these rare breeds could list their holdings and negotiate with others to find mates, expertise or even infrastructure these species might be saved and Philippine finch aviculture as a whole would benefit from the reinvigoration of the market. 

I’ve recently been told that Cordon Bleus are still bred in low numbers but they only breed once a year and have become rare as attrition exceed replacement and the number of males produced is disproportionate.  If you are one of those people I’ll pass on what I know about them.  In Australia this species hasn’t come into the country since 1945 but stocks are considered secure because it does breed freely and often all year round.  I think the big difference is that few people here have aviaries (an aviary in Australia is a cage that a person can comfortably enter and walk around in) and the provision of live food (typically termites or meal worms) and green seed during the breeding season is essential.  Like most estrillidads ripening green seed, softened or sprouted seed and soft foods are provided while young are in the nest.  Cage breeding, like overcrowding, is known to cause the female to only mature ova that will become male as this is the optimal finch strategy when resources are apparently limited to a small cage, having fewer and male progeny will lessen over-crowding and increase species fitness by increasing completion between the males.

I’d be happy to hear for zombie owners that want to get a living collection going and to see if their birds can be matched up before it’s too late.  Maybe you don’t have the space or the interested anymore but I’m sure someone does and these rare species can be saved but it will take cooperation.  I hope this can be done.  Your comments and cooperation will be apprececiated by all finch lovers here in the Philippines.

 Albert Ricarte Jr.
Address: Dela Rosa St., Makati City, Philippines
Landline No.: (02)8402538
Mobile No.: +639285907068

Here are some collection of my finches at home!

1. My Mini-Aviary

2. BF/BB (Male) – BF/Split BC Female

3. Offspring Number 2 Pic..an Orange-Faced Normal Zebra Finch

4. Black-Cheek/ Black-Breasted Male

5. Orange-Breasted Phaeo Male

6. Orange Breasted Male/ Orange-Faced (??)

7. Black-faced Male

8. Semi-Jumbo Lightback Crested Black Cheeked Male

9. Jumbo Normal BC(Male) – Normal Sized BC Female

Every month, I get to harvest around 15 to 20 fledgings. Currently, I’m not yet selling the best mutations that I have, the ones I posted above. Since they are quite few in quantity. For beginners, I suggest you buy the normal ones first. Get the hang of it. Afterwards, invest on the more expensive ones.

For all of you who inquires on the availabity of my finches. I sell my normal finches at 350 a pair. You might wonder why it is that expensive. This is because the food that I give my finches are of the best type. I can guarantee the health and vitality of these birds.

Genealogy of my First pair of Zebra Finch

Fawn(Male)- Albino (Red-Eye) Female

   It was bought July 9, 2006 in Cartimar. Actually this pair of finch are still the same old pair eversince I paired them. I haven’t changed their partnership since I acquired them last July because they are really a very repsonsible and prolific pair.

   They had their first clutch last September 4, 2006. They have had 6 to 8 clutched already. If you are going to read books reagrding mutations of finches. This is not an ideal one, since fawns are of dominant gene and the red-eye is autosomal. All their offspring are of fawn type. They carry their father’s gene.

FAQ’s:

1. How long does it take for a finch egg to hatch?

Answer: Usually, finches lay from 2 to 6 eggs. The female will start sitting them after laying her third egg. Afterwards, it will take 13 days for the baby finch to hatch.

2. What type of nestbox do finches like?

Answer: They prefer the half-open nest boxes made of intertwined bamboo sticks.

3. What type of nesting material is used by finches during breeding season?

Answer: Finches are great nest builders. Putting finch boxes with proper nesting materials stimulates finches to breed. I use coconut hush as nesting material. Usually, the male will start building the nest for the female to lay egg upon. Putting coconut hush lessens the chances of finches plucking feathers out from his/her body.

4. To be continued….

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