Green-winged Pytilia: Melba Finch, Breeding, For sale
Green-winged Pytilia (Also known as Melba Finch): Breeding Green-winged Pytilias (Pytilia melba) can be a fulfilling endeavor, but it requires an understanding of their specific needs regarding environment, diet, and nesting. Below are the essential aspects for successfully breeding these colorful finches.
1. Green-winged Pytilia Housing and Environment
- Aviary Setup: Green-winged Pytilias prefer large, well-planted aviaries with plenty of space for flight. Dense vegetation, like bushes and grasses, mimics their natural habitat and provides privacy.
- Cage Setup: If housed indoors, the cage should be spacious, with natural perches and hiding places to reduce stress.
- Nest Boxes: Provide small, closed nest boxes or baskets placed in secluded areas. They will use natural materials such as grasses, coconut fibers, and feathers to build their nests.
2. Diet
- Seed Mix: Their diet should include a mix of seeds such as millet, canary seed, and grass seeds.
- Insects: During the breeding season, offer live food like mealworms, fruit flies, and other insects to provide the protein necessary for egg production and chick growth.
- Egg Food: Supplement with a high-protein egg food mix during breeding.
- Fresh Greens and Sprouts: Offer fresh greens, sprouted seeds, and small amounts of soft fruits like apples and pears to boost nutrition.
3. Breeding Behavior
- Pairing: Green-winged Pytilias typically form strong monogamous pairs. It’s essential to ensure the compatibility of the pair to avoid aggression.
- Egg-Laying: The female will lay around 4-6 eggs, with incubation lasting approximately 12-14 days.
- Chick Development: Both parents share in feeding the chicks, who fledge after about 18-21 days but may still rely on their parents for some time afterward.
4. Green-winged Pytilia Challenges
- Territoriality: Pytilias can be territorial, especially during the breeding season, so ensure there is adequate space between nests to prevent conflict.
- Environmental Stability: Keeping their environment stable and quiet is crucial, as these birds are sensitive to disturbances, particularly during nesting and rearing.
By providing the right conditions and a balanced diet, Green-winged Pytilias can be bred successfully in captivity.
Notes from Glenn Johnson:
The Melba Finch can be aggressive in mixed collections as an aviary species. One of my hens killed three cocks in succession until I caught her in the act. This species can be overzealous when protecting their nests.
These birds require an enclosed aviary where they can seek shelter from bad weather. Long periods of wet weather are not good for this species and they will succumb if adequate shelter is not provided.
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E.S. Birds – 99 Tielman Roos Str, Olive Hill, Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa
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