Our finches live in an 8 foot long, 9 foot tall, 4 foot deep aviary. We constructed it out of 2 x 4s and 1/2 inch hardware cloth. Inside there are natural branches for use as perches, as well as Sandy Perches to keep nails short, and a heated perch for chilly birds. The birds eat from wild bird feeders that hang from the ceiling of the aviary, and drink from tube waterers. There is a black light and several full spectrum lights inside, and 2 windows inside the aviary gives the birds sunlight. We provide them with fresh cut bamboo when possible to give them a more natural play area, and they entertain themselves with a hanging rope and wood ladder, multiple swings, and other simple bird toys. Please click here to see pictures from the Aviary. |  |
I have started keeping a database of pictures of baby Lady Gouldian finches, since there are so few available on the internet. I have started being able to tell what color babies are at hatching fairly reliably, and thought others might like to compare these pictures to their own chicks to get an idea of what's in their nest boxes! Please click here to view the Baby Gouldians gallery. |  |
We have acquired about a dozen Bourke's parakeets who we hope to breed soon. Pepper is a rosy Bourke and Coral is a white-faced pink. They were a proven breeding pair before we got them, and they are super sweet. We also have about 8 more rosies, a pair of normals, and a pair of opalines. They live in the other 8 foot long by 9 foot tall by 4 foot deep aviary with our new pair of Splendid or Scarlet-Chested parakeets, Pip and Squeak. Both varieties are Australian Grass Parakeets. Click here for the Bourke's Parakeets photo gallery. |  |
We also have a pair of Pacific or Celestial Parrotlets. Petey and Luna are absolutely adorable! I got Petey first on a "whim" (though I went home and did 2 hours of research before going back to get him) and we got Luna to be a playmate for him a few months later... and he was terrified of her! All she wanted to do was play and cuddle with him. Eventually they became friends and spend lots of time preening one another and playing acrobatic tag on the wing. Petey and Luna live in the flight cage that Alex built for his first Gouldians, and love having so much room to fly. (They came with wings clipped, but we have not reclipped them.) Petey is learning to talk, and currently says "cute birdie," makes the "kiss kiss kiss" sound that I make when I'm around them, and imitates his neighbors, Coral and Pepper. Please click here for the Parrotlet Gallery. |  |
We have added a pair of bigger parrots to the mix, two white bellied Caiques named Penny and Perry. They are incredibly playful, and bring a lot of humor to our home. Caiques are often referred to as the Jack Russell Terriers of the parrot world, and we're finding this to be very accurate! Please click here to see our Caique Gallery. |  |
